“We can count the votes that were cast. We cannot recover the votes that were never allowed to be cast,” writes Gilles Vernier, a researcher at the Sciences Po in Paris. Vernier, who had helped build up electoral data from past elections while at Ashoka University, has been a long-time poll analyst.

In a column published in The Economic Times on 5 May 2026, however, he wrote that he was unable to analyse the results in West Bengal. Election Commission’s interference, he added, had muddied the outcome and ‘precluded any clear analysis’.

Newspapers and the electronic media, however, scrupulously avoided mentioning the role of SIR which disenfranchised 34 lakh voters in West Bengal, all of them Indian citizens (even the election commission does not say they are foreigners or Bangladeshis) on dubious grounds. Barely 1,600 of them could reach out to the appellate tribunals which restored 99 per cent of them back to the electoral roll. Which way they would have voted cannot obviously be known but that a disproportionate number of them were women and Muslims are now public knowledge.

Headlines foregrounded spectacle and personality. Images of Narendra Modi in a Bengali-style dhoti dominated front pages, with newspapers crediting him for the BJP’s performance in Bengal and Assam. Wordplay flourished. The Tribune ingeniously but clumsily highlighted ‘Bengal’s historic TriNAMOol shift’. ‘JeetMuri’ was the headline in Rajasthan Patrika, a laboured reference to the photo-op of the prime minister’s stop to buy the popular street snack jhalmuri (puffed rice with green chilli, onions and other condiments) while campaigning in Jhargram.

Among Hindi newspapers, The Navbharat Times (NBT) carried a large illustration of the penalty area of a football field. With goalkeeper Mamata Banerjee sprawled on the ground and Modi shown having taken the penalty kick, the ball is in the net while Amit Shah in football gear is celebrating with arms raised—the only front page that highlighted the Union home minister. The NBT headline in Hindi hailed both the men as ‘Bharatiya Rajneeti Ke Babumoshai’, whatever the headline writer and illustrator may have meant.

The front-page report in The Economic Times, predictably perhaps, carried a large photograph of Modi in the Bengali style dhoti and dramatically put the following words, as if spoken by the Prime Minister: ‘Aandhi Ban Ke Aaya Hoon (I have arrived like a storm)’—a clear and unabashed reference to this year’s Bollywood blockbuster Dhurandhar The Revenge. The prime minister would have been pleased. Other financial dailies were less theatrical. ‘A vote for change and continuity’, headlined the Business Standard. ‘A shock verdict in Tamil Nadu and Bengal’, read the Business Line headline while Mint led with ‘Saffron storm in Bengal’. ‘Parivartan, delivered’ was the headline in Financial Express.

The front-page headline in The Telegraph splashed in orange took the easy way out. It simply said, BJP’s Bengal with the outline of Kolkata’s iconic Howrah bridge. The largest circulated Bengali daily newspaper Ananda Bazar Patrika was even more cautious, headlining the verdict as the fall of Mamata and the rise of the BJP in the state. Neither SIR nor the Election Commission of India and Supreme Court found mention in the lavish coverage in the two newspapers.

The front-page headlines in newspapers outside the state were either bland or effusive. Times of India came up with ‘BJP is Bengal Janata’s Party’. Hindustan Times went with ‘Sunset for Satraps’. The Hindu, as always, played it safe and said ‘Change and Churn in Bengal, TN and Kerala’.

The Indian Express was the only one which tried to analyse the effect of SIR on voting in West Bengal, only to tie itself in knots. The misleading or mischievous headline of its front-page report read ‘Bengal SIR: TMC won 13 of 20 seats with highest voter deletions’. However, the report went on to say: ‘In the 187 seats that saw over 5,000 names deleted, the BJP won or was leading in 119. Of these 187 constituencies, the number of excluded voters was higher than the margin of victory or leads in 47. Overall, in these 187 seats—results were available for 170 and leads for 17—the number of excluded voters was higher than the margin of victory or leads in 47 seats, an analysis by The Indian Express shows.’

The Hindu in its editorial made a passing reference to the ‘tainted election process’. For all practical purposes though, the Indian media appeared to have moved on from SIR and its implications.

Financial planning involves managing income, expenses, and future commitments in a balanced way. When considering a loan, it is important to understand how repayment will affect monthly finances. A Personal Loan monthly EMI calculator helps estimate this obligation in advance, allowing borrowers to plan with greater clarity. By using such a tool early, individuals can avoid uncertainty and make informed decisions. To better understand its role, it is useful to first look at how EMIs fit into overall financial planning.

Understanding EMI in Financial Planning

Equated Monthly Instalment, or EMI, is the fixed amount paid every month towards repaying a loan. It includes both the principal and the interest components. Since EMI is a recurring expense, it directly affects how a person manages their monthly budget. Knowing this amount in advance helps individuals assess whether the repayment fits within their income.

Without this clarity, it becomes difficult to balance loan commitments with other financial priorities such as savings, essential expenses, and emergency funds. A well-planned EMI ensures that borrowing remains manageable over the entire loan tenure and supports long-term financial stability.

How the EMI Calculator Supports Financial Planning

An EMI calculator supports financial planning by providing clear, practical insights before a loan is taken.

Clarity on Monthly Financial Commitment

The calculator provides an instant estimate of the EMI based on inputs such as loan amount, tenure, and interest rate. This helps users understand how much they need to allocate each month, making it easier to assess affordability and avoid unexpected financial pressure later.

Better Alignment with Monthly Budget

With a clear EMI figure, individuals can compare the repayment amount with their income and existing expenses. This allows them to maintain a balanced budget and avoid disruptions to essential spending. It also supports disciplined financial management over time.

Flexibility to Plan Loan Structure

Users can adjust variables such as loan amount and tenure to see how the EMI changes. A longer tenure may reduce the monthly EMI, while a shorter tenure may increase it but lower the total interest paid. This flexibility helps borrowers choose an option that fits both short-term affordability and long-term financial planning.

Helps Avoid Over-Borrowing

By testing different loan amounts, users can identify a borrowing level that fits their repayment capacity. A Personal Loan monthly EMI calculator encourages responsible borrowing by showing realistic repayment expectations and helping users stay within their financial limits.

Supports Informed Decision-Making

Instead of relying on assumptions, users can make decisions based on calculated values. This reduces uncertainty and helps them evaluate whether the loan aligns with their financial goals. Once comfortable with the estimate, they can proceed to apply for an instant Personal Loan with better confidence and preparedness.

Smooth Transition to Application Stage

After identifying a suitable EMI and loan structure, the next step becomes more straightforward. The calculator bridges the gap between planning and action, allowing users to move forward when they feel prepared to apply for an instant Personal Loan without hesitation.

These benefits make the EMI calculator a practical tool for planning and evaluating borrowing decisions.

How to Use the Hero FinCorp EMI Calculator

Using the Hero FinCorp EMI calculator is a simple and structured process that helps estimate the monthly repayment based on key loan details.

●       Enter Loan Amount: Input the amount you plan to borrow, as this forms the basis of the EMI calculation.

●       Enter Interest Rate: Add the applicable rate of interest, which influences the overall repayment amount.

●       Select Loan Tenure: Choose the repayment period in months or years based on your financial capacity.

●       View EMI Instantly: The calculator displays the estimated monthly instalment along with the total interest payable.

●       Adjust Inputs: Modify the loan amount, interest rate, or tenure to compare different repayment scenarios.

By following these steps, users can evaluate multiple loan options and select a repayment plan that aligns with their financial goals and monthly budget.

Key Considerations While Using EMI Calculators

While EMI calculators are useful for planning, it is important to interpret the results carefully.

●       Indicative Estimates: The EMI shown is an estimate and may differ from the final approved amount.

●       Variable Interest Rates: The applicable interest rate can vary based on individual eligibility and other factors.

●       Overall Financial Position: Monthly repayment should be evaluated along with existing expenses and obligations.

Keeping these factors in mind ensures that the calculator is used as a planning tool rather than a final loan commitment, helping users stay realistic about their financial decisions.

Conclusion

Planning finances before taking a loan helps in managing future commitments with greater confidence. An EMI calculator provides a simple way to estimate monthly repayments and assess affordability in advance. By offering clarity on repayment structure, it supports better budgeting, disciplined financial planning, and informed decision-making. When used effectively, it allows individuals to approach borrowing with a clear understanding of their financial position, making the overall process more predictable, balanced, and easier to manage over time.

EMIRATES NBD BANK’s acquisition of RBL is best understood not as a conventional growth transaction, but as a restructuring-led takeover designed to extract value from a slow-moving banking franchise. In this view, RBL’s strongest assets are likely to be its customer base, branch footprint, licenses, and liability franchise, while its legacy operating structure becomes the primary target for overhaul.

The logic behind the deal

RBL appears to fit the profile of a bank that has changed hands multiple times, accumulated institutional drag, and struggled to keep pace with a modern, technology-led operating model. For an acquirer like EMIRATES NBD, that creates a familiar opportunity: retain the client and distribution engine, cut structural costs, and rebuild the operating backbone around centralized systems and automation.

This kind of transaction is rarely about preserving the acquired institution as it exists. It is about separating what is commercially useful from what is operationally expensive. In practical terms, that means the franchise survives, but the legacy organization often does not.

Where the cuts are likely to come

The first and deepest wave of restructuring is likely to hit non-client-facing functions. Legal, compliance, operations, finance, technology support, HR, internal control layers, and other back-office teams are typically the most exposed when an acquirer believes the target bank carries duplicated capability, excessive management layers, or expensive legacy processes.

Employees with 10 to 15 years or more of experience may be especially vulnerable in these areas. They tend to sit in mid-to-senior roles that carry higher compensation, have narrower legacy specialization, and are more difficult to justify in a post-merger model built around standardization and lower unit costs.

The core rationale is simple: a restructuring bank does not need two legal teams, two compliance hierarchies, two operations stacks, and two overlapping technology organizations for long. Once the integration blueprint is finalized, the acquirer usually centralizes policy, governance, tooling, and oversight under its own model.

Why client-facing roles are safer

Client-facing roles are more likely to be retained because they protect revenue continuity. Relationship managers, branch sales teams, wealth and SME coverage staff, and other frontline roles carry direct customer relationships that cannot be migrated as easily as systems or workflows.

Even where these teams survive, the nature of the role may still change. Frontline employees are often expected to sell more products, use more centralized digital tools, and operate with fewer support layers behind them. Retention, in other words, does not always mean stability; it may simply mean delayed redesign.

Tech will not just support the restructuring — it will define it

Technology is likely to be the main instrument through which EMIRATES NBD executes the restructuring. The goal is not merely digitization in a broad sense, but the replacement of people-dependent workflows with rule-based systems, shared platforms, automation tools, centralized data architecture, and tighter process controls.

This is why back-office functions are particularly exposed. Much of the work in legal operations, compliance monitoring, reconciliations, reporting, servicing, documentation, and internal approvals can now be standardized, routed, tracked, and audited through platforms that require fewer people than a legacy bank traditionally employed.

In that sense, the post-acquisition operating model may look very different from the institution RBL employees have known. The future bank could keep the same customers and branches, but run on a much leaner layer of human support.

What the new model may look like

A likely end-state is a bank where revenue and customer ownership remain visible at the frontline, while everything else becomes centralized, digitized, or absorbed into the parent structure. Decision rights move upward, execution gets automated, and support functions are consolidated into fewer hubs.

That would also align with the economics of most modern bank integrations. Acquirers do not pay for inefficiency twice. Once control changes, the pressure quickly shifts to lowering the cost-to-income ratio, simplifying governance, and ensuring that every retained role has a clear link either to revenue generation or to indispensable risk management.

What this means for employees

For RBL employees, the most important distinction is not designation but replaceability. Roles that depend on customer trust, local relationships, or judgment-intensive decision-making are more defensible. Roles built around process handling, coordination, oversight duplication, or legacy system maintenance are less protected.

The harsh reality of such integrations is that experience alone is not a shield. In many restructurings, long tenure becomes a disadvantage when management views it as a proxy for higher fixed cost, legacy ways of working, or resistance to system-led change.

The larger takeaway

The EMIRATES NBD -RBL story is not simply about one bank buying another. It is about the broader shift in Indian banking toward platform-driven operating models where customer acquisition remains human, but the rest of the institution is progressively redesigned around software, centralization, and cost discipline.

If that is the direction EMIRATES NBD takes, RBL will not disappear overnight. But it may cease to exist as an independent operating culture much sooner than as a brand or banking franchise.

This is an advertorial. The article is published as received.

The Maharashtra government has remained non-committal on demands to implement the Shakti criminal law following the rape and murder case in Nasarapur in Pune district, even as public anger mounts and opposition parties push for stricter legal action.

The incident has triggered widespread outrage across the state, with calls intensifying for the accused to be awarded capital punishment. While leaders across the political spectrum have backed the demand for the death penalty through existing legal provisions, the opposition has argued that only the Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020 can ensure such punishment.

Govt signals alternative legal route

Eknath Shinde said after a cabinet meeting on 5 May that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had directed officials to draft stricter provisions to bar parole for those convicted in sexual offence cases.

However, a similar law introduced during Fadnavis’ earlier tenure — restricting parole for sexual offenders — was struck down by the courts after being in force for nearly three years.

What is the Shakti law?

The Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, passed by the earlier Maha Vikas Aghadi government, was modelled on Andhra Pradesh’s Disha law. It proposes stringent measures, including:

• Death penalty for rape convicts

• Completion of investigation within one month

• Severe punishment, including death, in acid attack cases

The Bill was sent to the President for approval but did not receive assent as some provisions were found inconsistent with central laws such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The Centre had argued that the BNS already incorporates stringent provisions for sexual offences, making additional state-level laws redundant.

Modified provisions cleared in 2026

Earlier this year, the Maharashtra Assembly passed the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2026, incorporating select provisions from the Shakti Bill — particularly those related to digital sexual harassment and protection of the identity of acid attack survivors.

These amendments have been sent to the Centre for approval.

The demand to implement the Shakti law is not new. In 2024, opposition parties had raised similar calls after the Badlapur sexual assault case involving two schoolgirls.

Rohit Pawar has now demanded a special one-day Assembly session to pass the Shakti law.

Raj Thackeray also questioned the recurrence of such crimes in Maharashtra, asking, “Why are such incidents happening repeatedly? Where is the government?”

Public anger peaks

The current case has further intensified public anger, with protests and demands for strict punishment against the accused, identified as 65-year-old Bhimrao Kamble.

Kamble had previously been arrested in two rape cases, according to reports.

The victim’s father said no political leader should visit the family until justice is delivered.

While Chief Minister Fadnavis has said the government will ensure the accused is punished under existing laws, the opposition continues to insist that implementing the Shakti law is necessary to send a strong deterrent message.

The issue now sits at the intersection of legal feasibility, political messaging and public sentiment, with pressure mounting on the state government to take a clear stand.

A two-year-old tiger was found dead in the buffer zone of Panna Tiger Reserve on 5 May, taking the number of tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh to 28 since 7 January this year.

Forest officials said the carcass was recovered from the Amanganj buffer area. The animal had recently been rescued from Tara village and was fitted with a radio collar for continuous monitoring.

Brijendra Srivastava, field director of Panna Tiger Reserve said the carcass was intact and no signs of foul play were immediately detected.

“The situation will become clear only after a detailed inspection of the site,” Srivastava said.

Activist alleges ‘systemic collapse’

Wildlife activist Ajay Dube termed the incident a failure of forest management, linking it to repeated tiger deaths in the state.

“This isn't just unfortunate — it's a systemic collapse. The lack of stern action against forest officials is the root cause of these repeated killings.

High-tech collars mean nothing if the boots on the ground aren't doing their jobs,” Dube said in a post on X.

Rising tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh

According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, a total of 28 tiger deaths have been recorded in Madhya Pradesh so far this year, beginning with the first fatality reported on 7 January at the Bandhavgarh reserve.

Madhya Pradesh, which has nine tiger reserves, recorded 785 tigers in the 2022 census — the highest in the country.

Authorities said further details on the cause of death would be known after post-mortem and site examination.

The Bombay High Court on 5 May ordered the release of 50 seafarers stranded for months on three arrested vessels off the Mumbai coast, sharply criticising ship owners for providing minimal food and water and treating crew members “worse than pet animals”.

A bench of Ravindra Ghuge and Hiten Venegaonkar said the vessel owners appeared “least interested in human lives” and were prioritising commercial interests over the health and survival of the crew.

“Life comes only once. We don’t believe in rebirth,” the court observed.

Crew stranded after vessel arrest

The seafarers had been stranded onboard MT Asphalt Star, MT Stellar Ruby and MT Al Jafzia, which were arrested about 11 nautical miles off Mumbai over allegations of illegal fuel oil and bitumen transfers at sea.

Seven of the seafarers approached the high court through a habeas corpus petition, claiming they were effectively abandoned on the vessels with minimal food and water supplies.

When produced before the court, the seafarers told the bench they were being given just 300 ml of water per day and had been living in extremely harsh conditions.

They also said none of them wished to return to the vessels, alleging wrongful confinement and neglect.

Court rebukes vessel owners

Pulling up the owners, the bench said such treatment was unacceptable.

“How can you give the crew members only 300 ml of water every day? Even pet animals in our homes get more water each day,” the court said.

“We will not allow human lives to be treated in such a manner,” it added.

The court said the conduct of the vessel owners showed they did not value human lives and were concerned only with their commercial interests.

Focus on lives, not ships

Ordering immediate release of all 50 seafarers, the bench said it would prioritise human lives, while the owners could deal with their vessels separately.

“We are not concerned with your ships… That is not the scope of this habeas corpus petition,” the court said.

The court directed the Yellow Gate police to complete necessary formalities and ensure the release of all seafarers.

It also noted that continued deprivation of basic necessities would severely impact the health of the crew and could not be allowed under any circumstances.

A pilots’ body has urged the government to examine whether a “pre-lift-off electrical disturbance” could have triggered the fatal crash of an Air India Dreamliner last year, raising fresh questions even as the final probe report remains pending.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has written to the civil aviation ministry suggesting that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) expand its investigation into possible electrical system anomalies in the aircraft.

The Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport on 12 June 2025, killing 260 people.

In its preliminary report released on 12 July 2025, the AAIB said fuel supply to both engines was cut off within a one-second interval, leading to confusion in the cockpit moments after take-off. “In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” the report noted.

While the final report is still awaited, concerns have been raised about the aircraft’s electrical systems and the functioning of its fuel control switches.

In a letter dated 1 May, the FIP said: “Based on lithium-ion battery failures, relay behaviour under abnormal voltage, and Boeing 787 electrical design, a prelift-off electrical disturbance could have caused unintended relay operation and dual engine fuel cut-off without pilot input.”

The body urged that the possibility be treated as a “testable hypothesis” and examined through detailed electrical analysis by institutions such as IIT Bombay, the Aeronautical Development Agency, or Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

“Technical causes cannot be ruled out till this analysis is made,” the FIP said. It also reiterated its earlier demand for verification of the timing sequence cited in the AAIB’s preliminary report through simulator testing on the B787.

The crash and subsequent findings have sparked debate over the role of technical factors versus pilot action. In September 2025, the Supreme Court of India criticised the selective publication of the preliminary report, calling it “unfortunate and irresponsible” for fuelling a media narrative around pilot lapses.

Separately, Pushkaraj Sabharwal, father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal—one of the pilots of the ill-fated flight—had sought a formal investigation by the central government in August last year.

With multiple questions still unanswered, the focus now shifts to the final AAIB report and whether it will address the possibility of an underlying technical failure.

(With agency inputs)

Residents of east Delhi’s Vivek Vihar have begun organising community-level safety measures after a fire in a residential building on 3 May killed nine people, including a toddler, exposing critical lapses in building design and emergency preparedness.

The blaze broke out in a four-storey building in Vivek Vihar Phase-I and spread rapidly from the rear, engulfing flats from the first to the fourth floors. Preliminary findings point to an air-conditioner explosion on a lower floor, with strong winds aiding the spread of flames.

Design flaws worsened toll

Investigators and residents have pointed to structural issues that severely hampered evacuation — including a single central staircase, locked access to the terrace, and iron grills blocking rear exits.

Rakesh Singh said locals have decided to hold meetings every 15 days to discuss fire preparedness and structural changes.

“We will discuss several ways out during fire-related incidents… including risks posed by electronic door locking systems,” Singh said, noting that such systems can fail during emergencies.

He added that some residents were unable to exit due to electronic locks and died inside.

Rooftop access under scrutiny

Shiv Sharma, who owns flats nearby, highlighted an informal practice of restricting terrace access to top-floor residents.

“It is an unsaid rule… they even lock the rooftop. In this incident, many could not reach the terrace and died,” Sharma said.

He stressed that keeping terrace doors unlocked during emergencies could help save lives.

Iron grills, parked cars flagged

Residents also cited iron grills at the rear of buildings and haphazard parking as major obstacles to evacuation.

One resident said the building was “completely grilled from the rear side”, leaving no alternate escape route.

“I will suggest creating a rear exit by cutting grills so people can escape during emergencies,” he said.

Fire personnel had earlier flagged similar issues, stating they had to cut through iron grills to rescue trapped occupants. Power failure during the incident also rendered lifts and electronic locks non-functional.

Victims found near staircase

According to the Delhi Fire Services, nine bodies were recovered from different parts of the building, including near the staircase leading to the terrace — indicating that some victims had attempted to flee upwards but were blocked by locked access.

The tragedy comes amid a spike in fire-related incidents in the national capital. Official data shows a 73 per cent rise in calls in April compared to March, with 2,663 incidents reported last month.

Between January and April, 32 people have died in fire-related incidents in Delhi, with the Vivek Vihar blaze pushing the toll into double digits for May.

Officials have attributed the surge to rising temperatures and an increase in dry waste and garbage fires.

Focus shifts to prevention

For residents, the immediate priority is to prevent a repeat of the disaster through coordinated action and structural changes.

With regular meetings planned and safety measures under discussion, locals say the tragedy has triggered a broader push to rethink residential fire preparedness in the city.

TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday, 5 May, refused to go to Raj Bhavan to tender her resignation. She said she has not lost the election in Bhabanipur and accused her opponents of rigging the result. 

Banerjee alleged that the TMC did not contest against the BJP, but against the Election Commission, which “worked for the saffron party”.

Addressing a press conference a day after results to the West Bengal assembly were declared, the TMC leader reacted angrily when asked whether she would meet the Governor.

 “The question of my resignation does not arise, as we were defeated not by a public mandate but by a conspiracy… I did not lose, I will not go to Lok Bhavan,” she said.

“Why should I resign? We have not lost. Votes have been looted. Where does the question of my resignation arise?” the TMC chief asserted.

She said she would only visit Raj Bhavan to take oath of office, not to resign, and claimed that her party’s mandate had been “stolen”. She said she would “bounce back” and continue her political fight. 

The BJP secured 207 seats in the 294-member assembly, ending the TMC’s uninterrupted 15-year rule in West Bengal and marking a decisive shift in the state’s political landscape.

Reiterating that votes were “looted” in nearly 100 polling booths the outgoing chief minister maintained that the declared victory of BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari from Bhabanipur was not legitimate. She also made serious accusations about happenings inside the counting centre. 

According to Banerjee, her party’s counting agents were assaulted and forcibly removed. She claimed she was too pushed from behind, beaten and struck in the abdomen and back while she was trying to remain present until completion of counting. She further alleged that CCTV cameras were switched off during the incident and that central forces entered the premises and issued threats.

Meanwhile, experts have pointed out the constitutional process that follows election results. Former bureaucrat Jawahar Sircar explained that once the term of an assembly ends, it automatically ceases to exist and a new assembly must be constituted. He said the Election Commission will certify the results and send them to the assembly, after which newly elected members will receive their certificates.

Former judge Debasish Kar Gupta referred to Article 164 of the Constitution, stating that the chief minister’s tenure effectively ends once results are declared. He added that, by convention, an outgoing chief minister may continue briefly in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed, and that the Governor can take necessary steps if the cabinet does not resign.

Signaling a shift in strategy after the electoral setback, Banerjee said she would now focus on strengthening the opposition alliance at the national level.

“INDIA bloc leaders called me up to express solidarity. Soniaji and Rahul Gandhi have spoken to me,” Banerjee said, adding that she also received calls from Arvind Kejriwal, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav and Hemant Soren.

The irony of this statement was hard to miss given the TMC’s sharp attacks in the past on the party and its leadership, including questions raised over Rahul Gandhi’s credibility as an anti-BJP face and frequent friction between the two in West Bengal and Tripura.

Striking a defiant personal note, Banerjee declared she would return to agitational politics. “As long as I was in the chair, I tolerated many things. Now I am a free bird, an ordinary person. I am a street fighter. I will remain on the streets and fight all atrocities,” she declared.

(With agency inputs)

The morning after the West Bengal assembly election results, 5 May 2026, unfolded amid a surge of viral videos, political accusations and growing unease across parts of the state. While official confirmation of events remains limited, social media platforms have been inundated with clips and claims suggesting incidents of unrest, vandalism, and targeted violence.

According to a report in the Telegraph, the new government is likely to be sworn in on 9 May, the birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. However, BJP workers “impatient” to get things moving, have already signalled the shape of things to come.

One widely circulated video allegedly shows a group of political workers in Barasat, in North 24 Parganas, removing and replacing a road sign at the entrance of a locality. The act, reportedly carried out in full public view, has drawn criticism online, particularly due to the apparent inaction of security personnel seen in the footage. However, the authenticity, timing, and full context of the video have not been independently verified.

Other videos making the rounds depict acts of physical assault and public humiliation. In one clip, a man dressed in a saree is seen being beaten and paraded through the streets while slogans are shouted. Another shows a group confronting a woman in a tense standoff. These videos have been amplified by political figures, each framing them as evidence of either rising intolerance or selective outrage. Yet, as with many viral posts, key details—such as location, date, and those involved—remain unclear.

Amid these developments, political leaders have issued sharply contrasting messages. Addressing party workers at BJP headquarters in New Delhi on the evening of May 4, prime minister Narendra Modi said: "This marks the beginning of a new chapter linked to the future of Bengal. The discourse should be about 'change,' not 'revenge' [badla nahin badlav]. It should be a discussion about the 'future', not about 'fear'. Let us put an end to this cycle of violence."

Meanwhile, a video statement by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari—a contender for the chief minister's post—has gone viral. Suvendu Adhikari is reported to have told ANI: "The Hindus of Nandigram voted for me. The entire Muslim vote went to the TMC. My path is clear; I will work for the Hindus of Nandigram."

Reports of vandalism targeting party offices in multiple districts have also surfaced, with claims of arson, destruction of property, and intimidation. Several areas—including Bally, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, and parts of Kolkata—are mentioned in these accounts. However, comprehensive verification from neutral authorities or independent media remains limited at this stage.

The situation highlights a recurring pattern in the aftermath of high-stakes elections: a mix of genuine local tensions, partisan messaging, and the rapid spread of unverified content. In such an environment, misinformation can travel quickly, often shaping perceptions before facts are fully established.

Authorities have yet to release a detailed, statewide assessment of law and order conditions following the results. Meanwhile, citizens are urged to exercise caution in consuming and sharing content online, especially when it originates from unofficial or politically affiliated sources.

As West Bengal prepares for the swearing-in of its new government, the focus is likely to remain on maintaining stability and verifying facts in an increasingly polarized information landscape.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on 5 May met President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to cancel the membership of six Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab who recently quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mann also proposed a constitutional “right to recall” provision that would allow voters to remove elected representatives before the end of their term if they fail to perform.

AAP setback triggers constitutional push

The meeting follows a major setback for AAP on 24 April, when seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha MPs — including Raghav Chadha, a Rajya Sabha MP, and Harbhajan Singh, a former India cricketer and MP, among others — resigned from the party and merged with the BJP, citing ideological differences. Six of those MPs were from Punjab.

Mann submitted a memorandum to the President, backed by signatures of party MLAs, arguing that the defections undermined the mandate of the people of Punjab.

‘Mockery of Constitution’

Describing the development as a “murder of the Constitution”, Mann questioned how the BJP — with only two MLAs in Punjab — now had six Rajya Sabha MPs from the state.

“How can this be possible? Isn’t it a mockery of the Constitution?” Mann said, adding that the MPs should have resigned and sought a fresh mandate.

“They were ‘selected’, not elected. Their membership should be cancelled,” he said.

Recall mechanism pitched

Mann reiterated the demand for a ‘Right to Recall’ mechanism, echoing earlier arguments made by Chadha before his exit from AAP.

The proposed framework would allow voters to initiate a legally defined process to remove elected representatives who fail to meet public expectations.

Attack on BJP, agencies

Mann accused the BJP-led Centre of misusing central agencies such as the CBI and ED, alleging that cases against leaders are dropped once they join the ruling party.

“In which washing machine did you wash him off?” Mann said, referring to a case involving a former AAP MP who later joined the BJP.

He alleged a pattern of intimidation followed by protection, claiming that individuals facing investigations are later granted security after switching sides.

No ‘protection’ in Punjab

Mann asserted that defecting MPs would not be shielded from legal action in Punjab.

“If any wrongdoing comes to light, there will be an FIR in Punjab. They do not have any protection just because they joined the BJP,” he said.

He also dismissed claims of BJP expansion in the state following its electoral gains elsewhere.

“Punjab is not a truck that someone else can simply drive,” Mann said.

President to examine plea

Mann said the President assured him that she would consult constitutional experts before responding to the demand.

The development marks a sharp escalation in the political confrontation between AAP and BJP following the high-profile defections, with both sides now seeking constitutional and legal remedies.

Raghav Chadha on 5 May accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government of indulging in “dangerous vendetta politics” and misusing state machinery to target MPs who recently quit the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Chadha, along with three other Rajya Sabha MPs, met Droupadi Murmu and submitted a representation alleging harassment and politically motivated action following their exit from AAP on 24 April.

“All those MPs who exercised their constitutional right to express disagreement… have been presented today before the President,” Chadha said, alleging that dissenters were branded corrupt after leaving the party.

He claimed former AAP MPs who joined the BJP are facing intimidation and coercive action from Punjab authorities.

Specific allegations cited

Chadha alleged that former cricketer and MP Harbhajan Singh was attacked, with stones thrown at his residence and “traitor” written outside his home.

He also claimed that industrialist and MP Rajendra Gupta’s factory in Punjab’s Malwa region was targeted, alleging that water supply was cut and regulatory raids were carried out to initiate closure.

Further, he said cases registered against MP Sandeep Pathak were “malicious and fabricated”.

“These FIRs and notices are so frivolous that they are not worth the paper they are written on. The judiciary will tear them apart,” Chadha said.

Warning to Punjab govt

Chadha warned that using agencies such as the police, vigilance and pollution authorities for political purposes was a “dangerous game”.

“You may have started it, but the end will not be good. This must stop,” he said, adding that the BJP controls governments in multiple states.

He also alleged that attempts were being made to target him through fabricated cases and social media campaigns.

Pathak alleges ‘fear and panic’

Sandeep Pathak said the AAP was resorting to coercive measures out of “fear and panic”.

“They are filing FIRs, conducting raids and trying to intimidate people… go ahead, file FIRs, but do not back off afterwards. We will fight legally,” he said.

Pathak added that the President assured them that constitutional protections would be upheld.

Chadha also took a swipe at the ruling party in Punjab, claiming its tenure was nearing its end and accusing it of misusing governance tools for political retaliation.

In a post on X later, he said the delegation had conveyed concerns over alleged misuse of state machinery and asserted that democratic choices must be respected.