Suvendu Adhikari has been chosen by the BJP as the leader of its legislative party in West Bengal, positioning him to become the state’s first BJP chief minister. Union home minister Amit Shah said “every proposal was just one name”, referring to Adhikari’s selection, and described the BJP’s victory as a “historic political shift” in Bengal.

Once a key figure in Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, Adhikari built his reputation as a powerful organiser in Purba Medinipur before dramatically switching to the BJP in December 2020 ahead of the 2021 Assembly election.

His political rise, however, has long been accompanied by controversy. His name surfaced repeatedly in connection with the Saradha chit fund scandal, with reports citing a petition by Saradha chief Sudipto Sen accusing him of extortion and of using his influence to benefit the company. Adhikari has consistently dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.

According to a 2026 report, Adhikari currently faces 25 criminal cases, most of them filed after his exit from the TMC. The allegations include criminal intimidation, attempt to murder, rioting, promoting enmity between groups, hateful and casteist remarks, wrongful restraint, and hurting religious sentiments.

His 2021 affidavit reportedly listed only one pending criminal case linked to Narada-related material, but the number of cases increased sharply in later years. That shift strengthened the argument among his supporters that he became the target of intensified legal action after joining the BJP.

Court intervention significantly altered the trajectory of several cases. The Calcutta High Court stayed 26 FIRs against him at one stage and ruled that future complaints would require court approval, effectively slowing police action. Later, reports said 15 FIRs were quashed, while five others were handed over to a Special Investigation Team.

Opponents argued these developments gave Adhikari political protection, while the BJP maintained he was facing a campaign of politically motivated complaints.

Adhikari has also repeatedly drawn criticism over his political rhetoric and campaign style. Rivals have accused him of relying on intimidation and polarising language. One political opponent was quoted as saying, “His politics was based only on threats and intimidation,” while another report cited Adhikari warning Muslim migrants that they would have to “return to BJP states after the vote”.

More recently, he faced criticism after reportedly describing Muslims as “kattarwadi” (extremists) and claiming his political success rested on Hindu support — remarks critics said deepened communal divisions in Bengal.

His departure from the TMC remains one of the party’s most damaging defections in recent years. Deeply embedded in the organisation, Adhikari was seen as someone who understood the party’s local networks, caste equations and electoral machinery from within. Many in the TMC continue to portray his exit not as a routine split, but as a calculated betrayal that weakened the organisation at a crucial political moment.

Another issue that has continued to shadow Adhikari’s public image is the mysterious deaths of several close aides over the years. Before the killing of his confidant Chandranath Rath earlier this week, three of his associates — Pradip Jha in 2013, Subhabrata Chakraborty in 2018, and Pulak Lahiri in 2021 — had also died under controversial circumstances.

While no investigation has conclusively linked the deaths or established a larger conspiracy, the repeated incidents have fuelled political speculation and reinforced the perception of violence surrounding figures close to him.

Taken together, the criminal allegations, legal battles, combative rhetoric, bitter political realignment and recurring controversies have made Adhikari one of the most polarising figures in Bengal politics — even as the BJP now prepares to place him at the centre of its first government in the state.

A number of examples of ‘laxity on part of some franchises’ about adhering to protocols during IPL 2026 has forced the BCCI to wake up and issue a written directive to all 10 franchises to buckle up. IPL CEO Hemang Amin will hold a follow-up meeting with the franchisees on Saturday, 9 May, to appraise teams about the need to stay on guard after a major heads-up from the BCCI's Anti Corruption & Security Unit (ACSU).

While two contentious issues have come to light — both involving Rajasthan Royals with their manager Romi Bhinder found using a phone in the dugout and skipper Riyan Parag caught vaping in the dressing room — there have been other ‘serious’ breaches reported by ACSU head Sharad Kumar.

One of them, according to media reports, has been that of a girlfriend of a leading player allegedly passing team information to outsiders — which has set the BCCI thinking about placing curbs on players staying with families.

Confirming the issue of such a directive, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told National Herald over phone: ‘’There has been a laxity on part of a few franchises which go against our guidelines which have been reported by the ACSU. It may have crept in with time and hence, we found it necessary to sensitise the teams once again with a eight-page mail and the IPL CEO will chair the meeting on Saturday to emphasise on it and address any clarifications. We had a lengthy discussion on it during the IPL governing council meeting on Thursday and decided to act on it immediately."

The IPL has had its tryst with a wave of controversies in the past, right from ownership battles to a match-fixing saga which saw two teams being banned for two years.

While both Bhinder and Parag were fined for their transgressions, there are reports of visits from unauthorised people in the players’ hotel rooms which posed a major area of concern. The BCCI directive has asked the teams to remain cautious of targeted honey-trapping during the competition which is now heading towards the business-end, unauthorised movement and the pitfalls of violating the protocols.

“It has come to the attention of the BCCI that certain incidents of misconduct and protocol violation have occurred, involving players and support staff and team officials during the course of the current IPL season. These incidents if left unaddressed, carry the potential to cause significant reputational harm to the tournament, the franchise concerned and the BCCI as the governing body. They may further expose individuals and franchises to legal liability and security risks of serious nature,” the board’s letter read. The names of at least three franchises have been aired for the suspected breaches.

‘’Instances have been noted of players and support staff leaving team hotels at irregular hours without informing the designated Security Liaison Officers (SLOs) or Team Integrity Officer (TIOs). Such departures create significant security vulnerabilities and expose individuals to risks that cannot be mitigated if the relevant personnel are uninformed,’’ said Saikia in the letter.

The document also mentioned the breaches by unnamed team owners, who haven't maintained the sanctity of the Players’ and Match Officials Access (PMOA) and spelt out the 'dos and don'ts' again.

A statement by Jay Pawar backing his mother and deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar as Maharashtra’s first woman chief minister in 2029 has triggered fresh political churn within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.

The alliance was already grappling with simmering discontent from deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, who has continued to signal his own chief ministerial ambitions. Now, with the Ajit Pawar faction also staking claim to the top post, concerns are growing within the BJP that the chief minister’s chair could slip from its hands in 2029. Leaders from both the BJP and the Shinde camp have reacted sharply to Jay Pawar’s remarks.

The BJP had engineered a split in the original Shiv Sena through Shinde to come to power and subsequently made him chief minister. However, after the 2024 Assembly election, the BJP replaced Shinde with Devendra Fadnavis. The move reportedly upset Shinde, who has frequently expressed his displeasure indirectly, often retreating to his village and spending time farming.

Prahar Sanghatana leader Bachchu Kadu, after joining the Shinde camp, has openly demanded that Shinde be reinstated as chief minister. “We do not want to see Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister. We want our leader Shinde in that role,” he has said publicly.

Late NCP leader Ajit Pawar had joined the Mahayuti alliance after engineering a split in his uncle Sharad Pawar’s NCP with the ambition of eventually becoming chief minister. However, his death in an air crash in January left that dream unfulfilled.

His son Jay recently said the people of Baramati had always wanted to see Ajit Pawar as chief minister and that Sunetra Pawar was now working with the same dedication. “We hope that after the 2029 elections, she will fulfil Dada’s (Ajit Pawar) dream and become the chief minister of the state,” he said.

Following the statement, large posters and flex banners surfaced across Baramati declaring: 'Respected Sunetra Vahini Ajitdada Pawar… Yes, chief minister! The entire Maharashtra wants to see you as the state’s first woman chief minister.'

The posters have not only drawn public attention but also intensified unease within the Mahayuti alliance. At the same time, the Pawar family appears to be politically regrouping to consolidate its influence. Sharad Pawar’s daughter and MP Supriya Sule welcomed the demand for Sunetra Pawar’s elevation and said, “If Sunetra Pawar becomes chief minister, I will be the first to garland her.”

Leaders from alliance parties, however, responded with sarcasm and caution. BJP Mumbai president Amit Satam said there was nothing wrong in aspiring to become chief minister, but added that the final decision would rest with the people of Maharashtra. “Every party wants its leader to become CM. There is nothing wrong in that. But the final decision will be taken by Maharashtra’s 12.5 crore people,” he said.

BJP minister Jaykumar Gore remarked that merely expressing a desire was not enough to become chief minister and that adequate legislative support and a majority were essential.

Shinde camp leader Bharat Gogawale also took a swipe at the development, saying perhaps Jay Pawar had begun dreaming of the chief minister’s post after the alliance’s recent bypoll success. “We will have to wait and see what happens in 2029,” he said.

The jockeying over future chief ministerial claims has exposed growing internal tensions within the Mahayuti alliance, where the BJP, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and the Ajit Pawar camp are all attempting to expand their political influence.

The BJP has been trying to weaken Shinde’s hold over Thane, while Ajit Pawar’s faction is increasingly being viewed as vulnerable after his death. Yet the Pawar family appears determined to protect its political legacy through renewed unity.

At the same time, rising incidents of crimes against women in Maharashtra are beginning to affect the popularity of chief minister Fadnavis, who also handles the home department. The fallout, political observers believe, could hurt the BJP-led alliance in the 2029 Assembly election.

The Congress on Friday, 8 May, launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government over women’s safety, alleging that crimes against women have risen steadily during the BJP’s decade in power. The principal Opposition party has also accused BJP governments in various states of shielding the accused instead of ensuring justice for victims.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Congress women's cell chief Alka Lamba cited National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data to claim that 42,85,888 cases of crimes against women were registered across the country between 2014 and 2024 during the Modi regime.

“These are not mere statistics but over 42 lakh women and girls fighting for justice,” Lamba said, adding that annual crimes against women increased from 3.40 lakh cases in 2014 to nearly 4.42 lakh in 2024.

The Mahila Congress leader alleged that the BJP government’s flagship slogan 'Beti Bachao' had turned hollow amid rising incidents of rape, assault and atrocities against women across several states.

Quoting NCRB figures, she claimed that Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of crimes against women with over 66,000 cases, followed by Maharashtra with nearly 48,000 and Rajasthan with over 36,000 cases. Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, she said, reported around 33,000 and 27,000 cases respectively.

Lamba further claimed that nearly 10 Dalit women are raped every day in the country and that one woman falls victim to rape every 70 minutes.

She alleged that while the BJP uses slogans such as 'Nari Vandan' politically, influential accused linked to the ruling party are often protected from punishment. Taking a swipe at the Centre, she also accused the BJP of attempting to divert public attention from issues concerning women’s safety.

Raising concerns over crimes against Dalit and tribal women, Lamba said even the national capital remained unsafe for women despite repeated assurances by governments.

The Mahila Congress chief also referred to a recent alleged gangrape case involving a minor in Uttarakhand’s Champawat constituency, represented by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

She alleged that a BJP leader had been named in the Ankita Bhandari murder case in the same state, and accused the police of pressuring the gangrape victim’s family for a compromise instead of taking strict action against the accused.

According to Lamba, the victim’s father was taken into custody and the girl was prevented from meeting outsiders, while the accused remained free. She alleged that the Dhami government was attempting to protect its image and demanded an impartial probe outside Uttarakhand.

She also referred to a rape case involving a minor registered against Himachal Pradesh BJP MLA Hansraj, alleging that the ruling party was trying to shield him.

Invoking the controversial remission granted to convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, Lamba alleged that the 'Gujarat model' of protecting rape convicts had now spread across the country.

The Congress leader also cited recent gangrape incidents in Patna, including a case in which a girl was allegedly dumped near the chief minister’s residence after being sexually assaulted.

Demanding accountability from the Centre, Lamba said the NCRB data on crimes against women should be discussed during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. She urged the government to disclose not only crime figures but also the number of victims who had received justice and the number of accused convicted, particularly in cases registered under the POCSO Act.

The Congress on Friday accused the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Manipur of being responsible for the “total breakdown” of law and order in the state, a day after armed militants attacked and burnt several houses in Naga villages near the India-Myanmar border.

State Congress president O. Ibobi Singh questioned the role of the Assam Rifles, which functions under the Union home ministry and is tasked with guarding the international border in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

Pointing out that Assam Rifles personnel were stationed close to the site of Thursday’s attack, Singh asked why the force had “remained a mute spectator”.

“The Assam Rifles are stationed near yesterday's incident site. Who is in charge of the law-and-order situation in the state? Is it the state government or the Central government? They cannot turn away or escape their responsibility,” he said.

His remarks came a day after heavily armed militants, allegedly from Myanmar, attacked and torched several houses in the border Naga villages of Namlee, Wanglee and Choro in Kamjong district, located less than one kilometre from the International Border.

Ruling Naga Peoples’ Front MLA L. Keishing had claimed the attack was carried out from across the border by the Kuki National Army (Burma) and the Peoples’ Defence Force.

Singh said the nature of the attack pointed to a serious collapse in security irrespective of whether it was an external or internal threat. “Whether it is external aggression as alleged by a ruling party MLA or an internal aggression, it is a total failure of law and order. Recently, two children were killed in a bomb attack in Tronglaobi,” he said.

“We heard that a few unarmed Manipur police personnel were deployed at the site while the militants were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons. This shows the state government is not serious about the people of Kamjong district, whereas the Assam Rifles is just a mute spectator.”

The three-time former chief minister alleged that both the state and Union governments were equally accountable for the continuing violence in the state. “The state and Central governments are equally responsible for what is happening in Manipur,” Singh said.

Manipur has remained tense since ethnic clashes broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities in May 2023, with the conflict spreading to other communities since then. The violence has so far claimed at least 260 lives and displaced thousands of people across the state.

With PTI inputs

Unidentified persons allegedly set fire to a food joint located within the residential premises of a Congress worker in Assam’s Jorhat district in the early hours of Friday, police said. The incident took place around 1.30 am at Rangajan under the Titabor police station area.

“A probe has begun following a complaint by Rupali Das. More details will be known as the investigation progresses,” a police officer said. “The food joint and some spare parts of a vehicle, estimated to be worth around Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000, were gutted, according to the family.”

The incident marks the second reported alleged attack on opposition members since the Assembly election results were declared on Monday, 4 May, in which the BJP-led NDA returned to power for a third consecutive term with a two-thirds majority.

Earlier this week, unidentified persons allegedly hurled petrol bombs at the residence of a Congress candidate in Diphu in Karbi Anglong district, though the explosives did not go off.

In the latest case, Rupali Das said passersby first noticed the flames and alerted the family, who were asleep inside the house. “Around 1.30 am, we heard banging on our door and people shouting. We were initially hesitant to open the door, but when we heard the voice of our neighbours, we rushed out,” Das said.

She said the food joint at the front of the premises was completely destroyed in the fire. Spare parts of a commercial passenger vehicle operated by her husband were also damaged.

According to Das, local residents helped control the blaze before it spread further. After the fire was extinguished, she said she found a glass bottle filled with petrol with a wick attached to it, raising suspicions of arson.

Das’ residence is located near the ancestral home of former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi. She is known for regularly posting videos on social media in support of the Congress.

Congress social media and IT department chairman Rituparna Konwar condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrests. “Until now, we had only seen videos of post-poll violence in West Bengal. But today, some people are bringing such a dangerous political culture into Assam, which is a very alarming sign for the social fabric of the state,” Konwar said. “I strongly condemn the incident and urge police to immediately apprehend the culprits and ensure strict punishment.”

Akhil Gogoi also condemned the attack. In a Facebook post, he said, “I strongly condemn the torching of the small business that was the only means of livelihood for Congress worker Rupali Das by miscreants, and demand police to nab the culprits at the earliest and punish them.”

“According to media reports, Rupali Das was targeted only because she supports Congress. If someone is attacked only due to a difference in political ideology, just imagine where our Assamese society is headed,” Gogoi added.

With PTI inputs

Bengali filmmaker and former Trinamool Congress legislator Raj Chakrabarty has announced his decision to step away from politics following the party’s defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections.

Chakrabarty, who represented the Barrackpore Assembly constituency in North 24-Parganas district from 2021 to 2026, lost the seat to Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and senior Calcutta High Court lawyer Kaustav Bagchi by a margin of more than 15,000 votes.

The director shared his decision through a social media post, stating that his journey in politics had come to an end and that he would now devote his attention entirely to filmmaking.

“Whenever I was given any responsibility in life, I tried to fulfil it with honesty and dedication,” Chakrabarty wrote, adding that he had attempted to serve people sincerely during his tenure as an elected representative.

Reflecting on his transition from cinema to politics, he said he entered public life in 2021 after receiving the opportunity to serve people through electoral politics, but that chapter had now concluded.

Chakrabarty is known for directing several successful Bengali films and popular OTT productions, including the “Proloy” series.

In his statement, he also expressed hope that the incoming BJP-led government in West Bengal would work towards the state’s development and prosperity.

“The people of Bengal have delivered their verdict and a new government will take oath on 9 May. I hope the state continues on the path of progress,” he said.

Chakrabarty is the second high-profile celebrity associated with the Trinamool Congress to publicly distance himself from active politics after the party’s landslide defeat in the Assembly elections.

Earlier, actor and three-time Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Deepak Adhikari, popularly known as Dev, said he intended to scale back his political engagements and focus more on acting and film production.

Unlike Chakrabarty, however, Dev stopped short of announcing a complete withdrawal from politics.

With IANS inputs

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was on Friday elected leader of the BJP legislature party in West Bengal, clearing the path for him to become the state’s first BJP chief minister after the party’s landmark electoral victory.

Party sources said Adhikari’s name was proposed at the BJP legislature party meeting in Kolkata and formally announced by Union home minister Amit Shah in the presence of newly elected BJP MLAs and senior leaders.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government will be held on 9 May at Brigade Parade Ground.

Even before the formal oath-taking, preparations are underway across the state administrative machinery for the transition of power. A senior Assembly official said work was progressing “in full swing” at the West Bengal Assembly complex amid the possibility that the newly sworn-in cabinet may hold its first meeting there immediately after the ceremony.

“In the absence of any official communication, the Assembly secretariat is preparing the premises amid the possibility that the new cabinet members may come there after the swearing-in and hold their first meeting chaired by the new chief minister,” the official told PTI.

The official said chief secretary Dushyant Nariala held an emergency meeting with Assembly personnel on 6 May to review infrastructure and security arrangements.

“We have been asked to keep the annex building ready and take into account every infrastructural issue, considering security and other aspects. The building has to be kept ready,” the official said.

At the Assembly complex, nameplates of ministers outside their offices have already been removed as cleaning and maintenance work gathered pace.

Attention has also shifted to Writers' Buildings, the iconic colonial-era structure that historically housed the chief minister’s office and the state secretariat before the Trinamool Congress government shifted operations to Nabanna in 2013.

The building is currently undergoing renovation and maintenance work, fuelling speculation that the BJP government may eventually restore it as Bengal’s administrative headquarters.

BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said the party remained committed to governing from Writers’ Buildings. “We had said in 2021 that once our government comes to power, we will run the government from Writers’ Buildings. What will happen immediately after the swearing-in of the new government will be announced officially at the appropriate time,” he said.

However, Assembly officials said there had been no formal communication yet on whether the CMO would temporarily function from the Assembly annex building till the renovation of Writers’ Buildings is completed.

“No such word has been communicated to us. I think the final decision will be announced by the BJP leadership by tomorrow morning,” an official said.

Built in 1780 by architect Thomas Lyon in the neoclassical style with Corinthian columns, Writers’ Buildings originally served as a boarding house for East India Company clerks or 'writers', from whom it derived its name. It later evolved into the administrative nerve centre of Bengal under British rule and subsequently became the seat of power for successive state governments after Independence.

From Congress leader Prafulla Chandra Ghosh in 1947 to the CPI(M)’s Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in 2011, every chief minister functioned from the landmark building until Mamata Banerjee shifted the secretariat to Nabanna.

“The move to shift the state secretariat to Nabanna was a hasty, poorly planned one with no thought given to heritage and history. We will change that,” BJP MLA-elect Agnimitra Paul said.

The Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) efforts to gather support for government formation in Tamil Nadu received a boost on Friday, 8 May after the CPI and VCK extended support to the fledgling party, even as actor-politician Vijay was set to meet Tamil Nadu governor Rajendra V. Arlekar again in his bid to stake claim to power.

While the CPI formally backed the TVK, another Left ally, CPI(M), was expected to announce its decision later in the day. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) had initially said it would reveal its stand on Saturday after internal consultations, but announced its support on Friday.

Following a meeting chaired by state secretary M. Veerapandian, the CPI decided to extend support and submitted an “unconditional letter of support for government formation” to the governor, party sources said.

The TVK, which emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, 10 short of the majority mark, reached out to CPI, CPI(M) and VCK — all allies of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) — seeking support after its strong debut in the 23 April Assembly election.

The CPI, CPI(M) and VCK secured two seats each, while the Congress, another DMK ally that won five seats, had earlier extended support to Vijay. With this, the TVK now has the support of 119 MLAs, one more than the halfway mark required for a majority.

According to official sources, Vijay is scheduled to meet the governor on Friday evening over government formation. This will be his third meeting with the governor in as many days. A TVK source said Vijay was likely to reiterate his claim to form the government.

Meanwhile, VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan had earlier said the party’s high-level committee would meet via video conference at 5.00 pm on Friday to discuss the prevailing “political crisis” in Tamil Nadu and chart its future course.

Responding to questions on his recent meeting with DMK president and outgoing chief minister M.K. Stalin, Thirumavalavan said the VCK remained part of the SPA and described the interaction as a courtesy call between alliance partners.

Elsewhere, the Congress staged a protest against the governor for not inviting Vijay to form the government. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai, AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Girish Chodankar and party workers took part in the agitation.

Under Election Commission norms, Vijay will also have to resign from one of the two constituencies he won in the election.

With media inputs

The Supreme Court on Friday, 8 May, expressed disappointment over the non-production of witnesses in the ongoing trial related to the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case involving Ashish Mishra, son of former Union minister Ajay Mishra.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the status report filed by the Uttar Pradesh government failed to explain why witnesses were not appearing before the trial court. The bench noted that no witnesses had been examined in the past two months.

“We direct the presiding judge to take lawful measures to secure the presence of witnesses,” the court said, while asking the trial court to make efforts to conclude the proceedings in a time-bound manner and submit a fresh status report.

Eight people were killed in the violence at Tikunia in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district on 3 October 2021, during protests against the visit of then deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Four farmers were allegedly run over by an SUV linked to Ashish Mishra. In the violence that followed, two BJP workers, a driver and a journalist were also killed.

The Supreme Court is monitoring trials in two FIRs linked to the violence.

According to the court, in the main case, 44 out of 131 witnesses have been examined, 15 discharged, and 72 are yet to testify. In the second FIR, 26 out of 35 witnesses have been examined, with nine witnesses remaining.

Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Ashish Mishra, pointed out that the number of examined witnesses remained unchanged since March.

“What have you done from March till today?” the bench asked the Uttar Pradesh government’s counsel after being informed that only a few witnesses had been summoned during this period.

The bench suggested that trial courts summon more witnesses each day so proceedings are not stalled if some fail to appear. It also questioned how official witnesses could remain absent during the trial.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for families of the victims, urged the court to intervene more strongly in view of the pace of the trial.

The bench also reviewed a third FIR registered last year concerning alleged witness intimidation. It noted that a chargesheet had been filed against the main accused in that case, while the alleged role of Ashish Mishra was still under investigation. The investigating officer was directed to complete the probe and file an appropriate report within four weeks.

The matter will next be heard in July.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has criticised US President Donald Trump for congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the BJP’s victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, calling the remarks “premature and misplaced”.

In a post on X on Friday, the Rajya Sabha MP said state elections in India were an internal matter of the country’s federal democratic system and argued that external endorsements should be made cautiously.

Tagging the US President in his post, Raut urged Trump to adopt a “more informed and balanced view” regarding the recently concluded Assembly polls in West Bengal.

“As a Member of Parliament from India, I write in response to reports of your congratulations to PM Narendra Modi on the West Bengal Assembly election results. These are state-level elections — an internal matter of India’s federal democracy. Any external endorsement appears premature and misplaced,” Raut wrote.

His remarks came days after the BJP secured a historic victory in West Bengal, ending the Trinamool Congress’ 15-year rule under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP also retained power in Assam for a third consecutive term.

Earlier this week, a White House spokesperson said President Trump had congratulated Modi on what was described as a “historic and decisive” electoral victory.

Raut, however, alleged that the West Bengal polls had taken place amid an atmosphere of fear, intimidation and systemic pressure.

He claimed there was a widespread perception that the Election Commission of India had failed to act impartially and that its functioning appeared to favour the BJP, raising concerns about institutional neutrality.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also referred to allegations surrounding the extensive deployment of Central security forces during the elections, claiming that many viewed the move as coercive rather than confidence-building.

He noted that several opposition leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, had publicly questioned the fairness of the electoral process.

“Democracy is not only about conducting elections. It is also about ensuring that elections are free, fair and credible. When serious allegations arise, they require scrutiny rather than celebration,” Raut said.

He further questioned whether the concerns raised by opposition parties and critics had been taken into account before Trump’s congratulatory message was issued.

With PTI inputs

The historic rule change of Badminton World Federation (BWF), which adopted a new 3 x 15 scoring system to make the sport ‘shorter and faster,’ has it doubters among some of the biggest Indian names in the fraternity. The resolution adopted by BWF in it’s AGM in Denmark in late April marks the end of the long standing 3 x 21 points, a format which has defined the sport for nearly two decades, once the new rule takes over from 4 January next year.

Under the new system, matches will be played as best-of-three games to 15 points instead of 21, with the BWF arguing that the shorter format will improve scheduling, create more high-pressure moments and help player welfare. BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul called the decision an ‘important milestone’ for the future of badminton and said the sport needed to evolve for the next generation. “We are building a sport that speaks to the next generation, while continuing to invest in the long-term future of our players,” Leeswadtrakul had said.

The game-changing move, with an eye towards making the sport more broadcast-friendly as well, as it’s doubters though. ‘’I am not a big fan of it and would rather play the 21 points, may be the younger players like Lakshya (Sen) or Ayush (Shetty) can answer this better,’’ remarked H.S. Prannoy, the seniormost singles player in India’s Thomas Cup team.

‘’It’s an interesting move alright but I am not sure it will be value for money for paying fans,’’ the 33-year-old Prannoy said in response to a National Herald query during a virtual media interaction with a select group of journalists. ‘’It’s going to be very tricky when conditions are really windy, like it often happens in Indonesia or Malaysia where a match with 21 points can finish even in 25 minutes even if it’s between a world No.2 and 4 – so imagine what would happen in 15-point scenario,’’ remarked Prannoy, a 2022 Asian Games bronze medallist.

When the world governing body invited recommendations from the international badminton community on proposed rules changes and global calendar reforms in early January, Vimal Kumar – a Dronacharya awardee and former national coach had expressed reservations.  ‘’While I fully support BWF’s long term vision for the sport, I strongly believe that altering the existing scoring system risks diluting the core essence of badminton—its physical toughness, tactical depth, and mental resilience,’’ he said.

‘’My suggestion was in favour of retaining the 21-point format for men’s singles and women’s singles, especially at Tour 1000 and 750 events. If experimentation is required, they could have restricted the 15-point format to Tour 500 and lower-tier events or to non-singles disciplines,’’ said the former Olympian and Co Founder and Director of the Centre for Badminton Excellence from Bengaluru.

 Raising an element of concern was Saina Nehwal, a former world No.1 women’s player and the country’s first-ever Olympic medallist in the sport. “If changes are introduced, they should ensure that the quality of rallies and the competitive balance of the sport are not affected. At the end of the day, the focus should remain on fair competition and the spirit of the game,” Saina had said earlier.

Someone like Chirag Shetty, the doubles ace, however feels that 15-pointers could be the ideal way forward to take the sport forward. ‘’It was about six to seven years back when the BWF had mooted a 11-pointer, best-of-five games where before you realized, you were 2-0 down. The 15-pointers should still be manageable and somewhat similar to the existing 3 x 21 games.

‘’However, there is no doubt that the accent will be more on speed and power and the amount of rallies will be shorter. Players will want to start from the word go and hence matches will become faster and shorter. Come January, let’s see how it goes,’’ Shetty added.

Key rule changes from January, 2027

Scoring structure: Best-of-three games, with each game played to 15 points (down from 21).

Deciding game: The third game, if required, ends when a side reaches 15 points.

Game gap: A maximum cap of 21 points applies; if a game reaches 20–all, the next point wins.

Intervals: A 60-second mid-game interval occurs when the leading score reaches eight points, instead of the previous 11.

Change of ends: Players change ends in the deciding third game when a side first reaches eight points.

Serve: The side winning a game serves first in the next game.