The Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) is heading towards defeat in Kerala after two consecutive terms, if early trends from Monday’s Assembly election results hold.

After multiple rounds of counting, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had surged ahead in 101 of the 140 Assembly seats, while the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) was trailing with leads in fewer than 40 constituencies. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was ahead in just two seats, according to television reports.

Even at time of publishing this report, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was trailing in the Dharmadam Assembly constituency by 733 votes. Indian National Congress candidate Abdul Rasheed took over Vijayan.

The marks a watershed in Indian politics — the first time since 1977 that no state will have a communist government.

For decades, even as the Left receded from the Hindi heartland, it retained a firm grip over three key states — West Bengal, Tripura and Kerala. What was once a durable, regionally anchored ideological presence has, over the past decade, shrunk into electoral marginality.

The Left’s high noon came in 1977, when the CPI(M), riding an anti-Emergency wave, captured power in West Bengal, ushering in the longest uninterrupted rule by any party in a state.

Under Jyoti Basu, who served as chief minister for over 23 years, and later Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, the Left Front governed for 34 years — a period that reshaped land reforms and rural politics, even as it later drew criticism for industrial stagnation.

In the northeast, Tripura was the Left's other pillar. In 1993, the Left swept the state, with the CPI(M) winning 44 out of 60 seats. After Dasarath Deb, Manik Sarkar presided over two decades of relatively stable governance, building a reputation for clean politics even as economic opportunities remained limited.

The unravelling began in 2011. In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress channelled anti-incumbency and anger over land acquisition in Nandigram and Singur to end Left rule, reducing it from a dominant 235 seats in 2006 to just 62.

The defeat was not merely electoral — it marked the collapse of a political ecosystem. Tripura followed in 2018, when the Bharatiya Janata Party breached what was once considered an impregnable Left fortress. The BJP’s 36-seat victory in the 60-member Assembly cut the Left down from 50 seats to 16, signalling a decisive ideological and organisational shift.

Kerala remained the final outpost. The LDF’s return to power in 2016 under Pinarayi Vijayan — and its re-election in 2021, breaking the state’s pattern of alternating governments — had suggested resilience, even renewal. But trends on Monday indicate that this last bastion, too, may be slipping.

The implications will go beyond a routine change of government. It would signal the near-total erosion of the Left as an electoral force in India — from hegemonic power in key states to the margins of the political map.

The deeper question, then, is not just about a lost election, but whether the Left can reinvent itself in a changed political landscape of India where Hindutva has emerged as the strongest ideology, and most winning electoral force.

Making way for a generational transition in the Karnataka Congress, chief minister Siddaramaiah (77) resigned from his post on Thursday, 28 May, a day after the party high command asked him to step down. Deputy chief minister D.K. Shivakumar (64) is now set to become the next chief minister of Karnataka.

Earlier in the day, during a breakfast meeting with Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah announced his decision to resign and urged party MLAs and ministers to extend full support to DKS, who is widely regarded for his organisational strength and influence within the Congress.

“I have tendered my resignation from the chief minister’s post,” Siddaramaiah told reporters, reiterating that he had always maintained he would step down whenever directed by the party leadership.

Sources said Siddaramaiah himself proposed Shivakumar’s name for the top post during discussions with senior party leaders, signalling the leadership’s consensus on the transition. “The high command directed me two days ago to step down, and accordingly I submitted my resignation today. I got the opportunity to serve the people of Karnataka twice, for which I thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge,” he said.

Siddaramaiah also revealed that the party leadership had offered him a Rajya Sabha seat, which he declined. “I respectfully declined the Rajya Sabha offer. I am not interested in national politics and will continue to remain active in Karnataka politics,” he said.

Describing the Constitution as his guiding principle, the outgoing chief minister, who will be remembered for his flagship social welfare schemes in the state, said, “The Constitution is our religion and the people are our God. We made a sincere effort to fulfil the promises made to the people of Karnataka. We have not broken our word, and that gives both me and the party satisfaction. The opposition has spread misinformation against me.”

Siddaramaiah asserted that he would continue to fight forces “working against the Constitution”. “I will fight communal forces till my last breath,” he added.

Highlighting the Congress’ strong mandate in the state, he said the party had secured an overwhelming majority in the 2023 Assembly elections.

The Congress had won 135 seats in the Assembly elections. In addition, two Independent MLAs also supported the Congress government.

Siddaramaiah’s resignation is now awaiting formal approval from governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, who is currently out of Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Congress on Thursday shared photographs of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar embracing each other, projecting unity within the party amid the leadership change.

“That day, this day, forever. Unity is our strength! Public service is our eternal commitment!” the Karnataka Congress posted on X.

The Indian National Congress (INC) on Wednesday criticised senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Dattatreya Hosabale over his remarks advocating continued dialogue with Pakistan, claiming his recent visit to the United States had influenced both him and the organisation.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at the RSS functionary after a video clip surfaced of Hosabale speaking in an interview with PTI Videos about maintaining channels of communication with Pakistan.

“It appears that the recent US trip of Shri Hosabale, during which one of his colleagues admitted to the PM doing what the US wanted him to do, has impacted him as well as the RSS,” Ramesh wrote in a post on X.

He also suggested that supporters of the ruling establishment and sections of television media would have reacted sharply had similar remarks been made by leaders outside the ideological fold of the RSS.

In the interview, Hosabale said there should always remain scope for engagement between India and Pakistan despite strained relations between the two neighbours.

“The security and self-respect of a country have to be protected and the government of the day should take care of it. But at the same time, we need not close the doors. We should always be ready to engage them in a dialogue,” he said.

Hosabale argued that direct interaction between ordinary citizens could help ease tensions and break the prolonged diplomatic deadlock between the two countries. He also said Pakistan’s military and political leadership had lost India’s trust, making civil society engagement increasingly important.

The remarks come shortly after the RSS undertook outreach efforts in the United States and the United Kingdom as part of activities linked to its centenary year. Hosabale addressed events at Stanford University and the Hudson Institute, while also meeting members of the Indian diaspora and academics.

The Congress has repeatedly attacked the RSS over comments made during the visit. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently mocked the organisation as the “Rashtriya Surrender Sangh”, alleging that RSS leader Ram Madhav had exposed what he described as the group’s “fake nationalism” during an event in the US.

Gandhi’s criticism followed remarks by Madhav suggesting that India had agreed to stop purchasing oil from Iran and Russia and had accepted higher tariffs imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump.

Madhav later apologised for the comments, stating that his remarks were factually incorrect. He clarified that India had neither agreed to halt Russian oil imports nor accepted the tariff measures without protest, adding that New Delhi had strongly opposed the 50 per cent tariff imposed by Washington.

With PTI inputs

The Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) intensified its campaign against alleged paper leaks and irregularities in competitive examinations over the weekend, staging protests in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh while demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

In Lucknow on Sunday, 14 June, NSUI workers took out a march against alleged leaks in examinations such as NEET, the Lekhpal recruitment test and the Uttar Pradesh sub-inspector recruitment examination, as well as against the arrest of party workers raising the issue.

Led by NSUI national president Vinod Jakhar and Uttar Pradesh unit president Anas Rahman, protesters marched from the state Congress headquarters towards Raj Bhavan. The march was halted by police barricades before Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg. As some protesters attempted to climb the barricades and move ahead, police intervened and dispersed the gathering.

The organisation claimed that one of its workers fell unconscious during the confrontation and was admitted to Civil Hospital for treatment. Police detained several protesters and transported them to Eco Garden, from where they were released later in the evening.

Addressing supporters, Jakhar accused the BJP government of failing to conduct competitive examinations in a fair and transparent manner. "NSUI workers are on the streets because the government has completely failed in conducting competitive examinations. We are protesting against the NEET paper leak across Uttar Pradesh and the country," he said.

Demanding accountability, Jakhar said Pradhan should resign, taking responsibility for the alleged irregularities. "The deployment of a massive police force clearly shows that the BJP government is scared. The government is protecting paper leak mafias," he alleged.

Jakhar also referred to students allegedly affected by examination irregularities and demanded compensation for the families of students who had ended their lives following the cancellation of the exams. He also called for a ban on the National Testing Agency (NTA) and reiterated the demand for Pradhan's immediate resignation.

Rahman said the agitation would continue. "We are soldiers of Rahul Gandhi and we are not going to stop. This protest will continue. No matter how much action is taken against our workers, NSUI will keep raising the voice of students and unemployed youth," he said.

The protest in Lucknow came a day after police detained several NSUI office-bearers and workers in Bhopal as they attempted to stage a demonstration against Pradhan during his visit to the city.

According to Congress leaders, the workers were on their way from the Pradesh Congress Committee office to Atal Bhavan, the headquarters of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, carrying placards when they were stopped and taken into custody.

Those detained included NSUI Madhya Pradesh vice-president Ravi Parmar and district vice-president Amit Hatiya. The Congress alleged that some office-bearers were detained from their homes, while others were picked up from party offices.

A minor scuffle broke out during the detentions as protesters raised slogans against the Union education minister. The demonstrators said they were protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and demanding Pradhan's resignation.

According to the protesters, irregularities in the country's premier medical entrance examination had shaken the confidence of lakhs of students and their families.

While being detained, Parmar alleged that the Centre was weakening the education system. "A paper leak in an important examination like NEET is not merely an administrative failure but an injustice to the future of lakhs of youths," he said.

He added that the NSUI would continue its agitation until strict action was taken against those responsible and the Union education minister accepted moral responsibility for the controversy.

Congress spokesperson Vivek Tripathi described the police action as "undemocratic".

"The government is trying to suppress the voice of the youth. The NEET paper leak scandal has pushed the future of lakhs of students into uncertainty," he alleged.

Tripathi said Pradhan should resign on moral grounds and accused both the minister and the Centre of trying to evade responsibility. He said the country's youth would continue to protest democratically against the Union minister wherever he travelled. "The Congress and NSUI will continue fighting for the rights of students and young people," he added.

The NEET-UG 2026 examination, originally conducted on 3 May, was cancelled by the National Testing Agency on 12 May following allegations of irregularities. A re-test is scheduled to be held on 21 June.

The Central Bureau of Investigation is currently probing the paper leak case.

With PTI inputs

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

Ahead of the much-anticipated expansion of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the ruling party, questioning how it plans to accommodate defectors, dissatisfied legislators and alliance partners within the limited vacancies available in the state cabinet.

The expansion of the government of Uttar Pradesh cabinet led by chief minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled later in the day.

In a strongly worded post on X, the Samajwadi Party chief said the public was asking whether leaders who switched over to the BJP from rival parties would now be rewarded with ministerial positions despite there being only six vacant berths in the cabinet.

“People are asking that there are only six vacancies in the Uttar Pradesh cabinet, while the number of leaders who switched sides from other parties is much higher. Will all of them be rewarded with ministerial positions?” Yadav wrote.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also questioned the criteria likely to be used in selecting ministers from among legislators belonging to the same caste or community.

“If one MLA is chosen from among several legislators belonging to a community, what will be the basis of that selection?” he asked.

Akhilesh Yadav further suggested that many turncoat leaders could feel humiliated if denied cabinet positions after joining the BJP.

“What will happen to the remaining turncoats? Will their neglect and humiliation be pacified through some compromise, or will they also realise that the BJP belongs to no one?” he remarked.

The Samajwadi Party leader claimed those left out of the expansion may struggle politically in their constituencies.

“Will those left out not feel betrayed? Will they be able to show their faces in their constituencies?” he asked.

Targeting BJP legislators waiting for ministerial roles, Yadav said several leaders within the ruling party had spent years hoping for cabinet positions.

“What about the BJP's own people who have been drying up like thorns while waiting to become ministers?” he said in a swipe at the party leadership.

He also questioned whether reshuffling or reducing portfolios of existing ministers would amount to an admission of poor governance.

“If departments are taken away from current ministers, will that not send a message that they were unsuccessful and therefore stripped of their ministries? Such ministers may lose elections without even fighting,” he said.

Yadav also took aim at the BJP’s allies, asking whether coalition partners would receive meaningful representation or continue to remain marginalised within the government.

“Will alliance partners get something more than mere assurances, or will they be ignored with the message — ‘tum the jinke sahare, wo hue na tumhare’,” he said, quoting a Hindi film song lyric to underscore his criticism.

Sharpening his attack on the BJP government’s overall performance, the SP chief said the final months before the next Assembly election would not change public opinion.

“The public is also asking what these ministers can achieve in the last nine months when the government could not deliver anything in nine years,” he alleged.

Accusing the BJP government of corruption, inflation and unemployment, Yadav claimed the ruling dispensation had burdened citizens while targeting PDA communities — a political term used by the Samajwadi Party for backwards, Dalits and minorities.

“The BJP government has only delivered corruption and atrocities, attacks on PDA, and the burden of inflation and unemployment, making life difficult for people,” he said.

With PTI inputs

In a watershed moment for Tamil Nadu politics, actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay on Sunday took oath as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, bringing an end to nearly six decades of alternating rule by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

The oath of office and secrecy was administered by R.N. Ravi at a grand ceremony held at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai amid thunderous cheers from party workers and supporters.

Nine ministers were sworn in alongside Vijay as part of the new Council of Ministers, marking the formal beginning of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government.

The ceremony drew an influential gathering of political leaders, film stars, industrialists and dignitaries from across the country. Among those present was Rahul Gandhi, leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, whose attendance underscored the national political significance of Vijay’s rise.

Authorities enforced extensive security arrangements across Chennai for the high-profile event. Chennai City Police deployed heavy police personnel around the stadium, intensified vehicle checks and imposed strict access-control measures to manage the large crowds and VIP movement.

Special seating arrangements were made for prominent guests attending the swearing-in ceremony.

In the front row sat Vijay’s parents — veteran filmmaker S.A. Chandrasekhar and Shoba Chandrasekhar — whose emotional presence became one of the defining moments of the day.

Actor Trisha Krishnan and her mother were also seated prominently, attracting significant media and public attention. Before the ceremony began, Trisha was seen warmly interacting with Vijay’s mother, a moment that quickly became a talking point across television channels and social media platforms.

Vijay assumes office after the TVK-led alliance secured the backing of 120 MLAs in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, comfortably crossing the majority mark of 118 required to form the government.

Although TVK emerged as the single largest party in the recently concluded Assembly elections, it initially fell short of an outright majority, triggering intense political negotiations over the past several days.

The deadlock ended on Saturday evening after the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) extended support to the Vijay-led alliance.

Earlier, the Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) backed the TVK, enabling Vijay to formally stake claim to form the government.

Following the securing of support, Vijay met governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan in Chennai on Saturday night and submitted letters of support from all five allies. The Governor subsequently invited him to form the ministry and directed the new government to prove its majority on the floor of the assembly on or before 13 May.

Political observers described Vijay’s swearing-in as a historic political realignment in Tamil Nadu, where power had remained firmly within the Dravidian political framework since 1967.

The rise of a non-Dravidian political formation to power has now opened an entirely new chapter in the state’s political history, reshaping the contours of Tamil Nadu’s electoral landscape and signalling the arrival of a powerful new force in regional politics.

With IANS inputs

A senior religious leader associated with the Ram Mandir on Thursday called for a transparent and impartial investigation into allegations of irregularities in temple donations, while Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal dismissed claims raised by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, saying they lacked public credibility.

Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, successor to Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, said any alleged wrongdoing in the handling of donations and offerings at the temple should be thoroughly examined.

Referring to the ongoing controversy, Das said the current atmosphere was marked by allegations and counter-allegations, with concerns also being raised about the credibility of the investigative process itself.

“One side is making allegations against the other, while questions are also being raised over the integrity and transparency of those conducting the probe,” he said.

He stressed that the investigation must be conducted in a transparent manner so that all stakeholders retain confidence in the process and the truth emerges without doubt.

The remarks come amid allegations regarding the management of donations at the Ram Mandir, which have triggered a wider debate over financial accountability and administrative oversight at the temple.

The controversy intensified after Mahipal Singh, who claims to have served as accounts in-charge at the Ram Mandir, alleged that irregularities in donation collections had been taking place for a prolonged period.

Singh also named certain individuals linked to the temple's management and claimed he was removed from his position after raising concerns over the matter.

BJP-SP exchange sharp remarks

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Lucknow, Goyal rejected allegations made by Akhilesh Yadav and said the SP president's social media posts were not taken seriously by the people of Uttar Pradesh.

“People of Uttar Pradesh do not take Akhilesh Yadav's social media posts seriously, nor do they believe his allegations,” Goyal said.

The Union minister also targeted the previous SP government, alleging that Uttar Pradesh had suffered from poor law and order, lack of development and what he termed “politics of discrimination” during its tenure.

Expressing confidence ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Goyal said the BJP-led government would return to power in the state.

Meanwhile, sources said that apart from the ongoing inquiry, the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) has sought a report detailing the sequence of events surrounding the controversy.

According to the sources, the report could lead to a review of various aspects related to temple administration, arrangements and management practices.

The split in the Trinamool Congress became formal on Sunday as the party's rebel MPs joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a little-known political outfit from Tripura, instead of merging directly with the BJP.

The move gives the obscure party, which was founded only in 2023 and has so far had a limited presence in Tripura and Assam, an unexpected foothold in West Bengal and a sizeable presence in Parliament overnight.

The decision follows days of speculation over the future of the dissident MPs. While many expected them to join the BJP or seek recognition as a separate Trinamool faction, the rebels instead chose the NCPI route, a move widely seen as a way of avoiding legal complications under the anti-defection law while maintaining political proximity to the BJP-led NDA.

The rebel MPs met Union minister Bhupender Yadav in Delhi before approaching Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla with a letter seeking recognition under the NCPI banner.

The development marks a complete political break from Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. Leaders including Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Saayoni Ghosh, Mala Roy, Rachna Banerjee, Dev and several other dissident MPs are now set to function under a new political identity.

According to sources, the rebels had initially explored the possibility of claiming to be the "real" Trinamool Congress parliamentary group or functioning as a separate bloc within Parliament. However, legal objections raised by the Trinamool and the possibility of a prolonged dispute before Parliament's monsoon session prompted a change in strategy.

Instead, the MPs opted to join the NCPI, a relatively unknown party that maintains friendly relations with the NDA but has remained largely on the margins of national politics since its formation.

Sources said contacts were established with several registered political parties before the NCPI was selected. The party's Bengali-oriented political positioning and existing organisational structure are understood to have weighed in its favour.

After meeting the Speaker, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar confirmed the move. "We have sought separate seating arrangements. We informed the Speaker that we are joining the Nationalist Party. Twenty elected Trinamool MPs met the Speaker and submitted our letter. Twenty MPs constitute two-thirds of the parliamentary party. We are joining the Nationalist Party and will work in coordination with the NDA leadership and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," she said.

She also announced that the NCPI would soon establish an organisational presence in West Bengal. "The decision has been taken. The letter has been submitted. A party office will be opened and we will work for the people," she said.

Political observers see the move as a carefully calibrated strategy that allows the rebels to formally sever ties with the Trinamool Congress without immediately joining the BJP.

The arrangement also addresses concerns within sections of the West Bengal BJP, where there had reportedly been reservations about a mass induction of former Trinamool MPs.

For the NCPI, the development represents an extraordinary political leap. A party that until now had remained largely unknown outside parts of Tripura and Assam suddenly finds itself at the centre of one of the biggest political realignments in West Bengal in recent years.

With media inputs

The repoll for the Falta assembly constituency in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district witnessed a peaceful start on Thursday, with voter turnout touching 20.47 per cent within the first two hours of polling till 9 am.

No incidents of violence, tension, or electoral malpractice were reported from any of the 285 polling booths across the constituency, officials said.

Long queues of voters were seen outside polling stations from early morning, with residents braving the scorching summer heat to cast their ballots in the high-stakes repoll ordered by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The atmosphere in the constituency appeared markedly different from the earlier polling phase held on 29 April, which was marred by allegations of electoral irregularities and intimidation.

The Trinamool Congress candidate, Jahangir Khan, who announced his withdrawal from the contest last week, remained largely absent from the political landscape on polling day. The party had no visible polling agents at booths, and no temporary Trinamool camp offices were seen functioning in the constituency.

The shutters of Khan’s main party office, once considered the nerve centre of his political influence in Falta, remained locked. Khan himself was reportedly not present at his residence in the Srirampur area.

Despite his withdrawal announcement, Khan’s name continued to appear on EVMs as the deadline for officially withdrawing candidature had already passed.

Meanwhile, polling agents and temporary camps of the BJP, CPI(M), and Congress were active across the constituency, operating within the limits prescribed by the ECI.

Several voters claimed they had been unable to vote freely in elections held after 2011 and credited the heavy security deployment for the peaceful atmosphere this time.

“My entire family has traditionally supported the Trinamool Congress. But even then, we were not allowed to vote in elections after 2011. This time we are voting without fear because of the security arrangements,” a voter waiting in queue told reporters.

A total of 35 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have been deployed for the repoll — an unusually large deployment for a single assembly constituency — ensuring strict security at all polling booths.

With IANS inputs

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday extended greetings to the people of Telangana on the occasion of the state's 12th Statehood Day, paying tribute to those who fought for its creation and reaffirming the Congress party's commitment to its development.

Telangana Statehood Day is observed annually on 2 June to commemorate the formation of the state in 2014, when it was carved out of the northwestern region of Andhra Pradesh to become India's 29th state.

In a message posted on X, Kharge described Telangana as a state "born out of sacrifice, resilience and the unwavering aspirations of millions" and said its creation marked a significant chapter in India's democratic history.

"The creation of Telangana stands as a defining moment in India's democratic journey," Kharge said.

The Congress chief credited former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi for fulfilling the long-standing aspirations of the people and paving the way for the formation of the state.

Paying homage to those who participated in the Telangana movement, Kharge said the sacrifices of martyrs, students, youth, employees, farmers and activists would always remain an integral part of the state's legacy.

"We bow our heads in tribute to the countless martyrs, students, youth, employees, farmers and activists whose sacrifices and struggles made Telangana a reality," he said.

Kharge also highlighted the work of the Congress government in Telangana, saying it was committed to building a people-centric state based on social justice, dignity, inclusive growth and equal opportunity.

Referring to the party's vision of "Indiramma Rajyam", he said it continues to guide the government's efforts toward empowering women and youth, strengthening marginalised communities and ensuring development reaches every section of society.

"As Telangana moves forward with confidence and hope, we convey our warmest wishes to its people for peace, prosperity and continued progress," he added.

Rahul Gandhi also extended greetings to the people of Telangana, describing the state's formation as the result of the struggles and sacrifices of lakhs of people.

"Today we remember every individual who gave their life for the Telangana of their dreams," Rahul Gandhi said in his message.

The Congress leader said the party's government in the state was carrying forward that legacy through policies centred on social justice, equal opportunity and the dignity of every citizen.

The messages from the Congress leadership came as Telangana celebrated another year of statehood, reflecting on a movement that reshaped India's political map and continues to influence the state's development trajectory.

With IANS inputs

The Congress on Monday intensified its attack on the Centre and Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the Central Board of Secondary Education’s newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 board examinations.

Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh accused the government of mishandling the digital evaluation process, claiming it had created uncertainty for lakhs of students and disrupted academic outcomes across the country.

In a post on X, Ramesh alleged that the rollout of the OSM system had “thrown into chaos the academic futures of lakhs of children” and raised serious concerns about the functioning of the CBSE.

He claimed that the Class 12 pass percentage had fallen from 88 per cent last year to 85 per cent this year and alleged that the evaluation process was marred by multiple irregularities.

According to the Congress leader, students and evaluators faced issues including blurred and illegible scanned answer sheets, incorrect allocation of scripts, errors in marking, delays in payments to teachers and high revaluation fees.

The OSM system, introduced by CBSE this year, involves scanning physical answer sheets, digitally masking student identities and allowing teachers to evaluate scripts on computer screens.

Targeting Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ramesh accused him of responding only after concerns had escalated publicly.

He criticised the minister for portraying himself as attempting to resolve the issue after technical problems emerged and questioned why the education ministry and CBSE had failed to anticipate implementation challenges before introducing the system nationwide.

Ramesh also referred to reports that IIT Kanpur had been brought in to assist with technical issues linked to the evaluation process.

Sharpening his criticism, the Congress leader said the education minister should resign over what he described as “institutional collapse” and accused the government of jeopardising students’ futures through administrative failures.

The Centre and CBSE have not yet issued a detailed response to the allegations.

With IANS inputs