'If a floor test happens, one group of MLAs may abstain to allow the confidence vote to pass. So theoretically, he can run a minority government as long as the others won't join each other to vote him out.'
'Shivakumar's relationship with the BJP and the RSS is not adversarial in the way Siddaramaiah's has been.' 'Siddaramaiah has publicly attacked the RSS on record; Shivakumar has made no such statement at any point.' 'He vociferously defended the Karnataka government's celebration of Ram temple consecration with RSS-ish arguments.'
The AIADMK has stated it will not support the TVK in forming a government in Tamil Nadu, dismissing reports of a potential post-poll alliance.
CPI(M) leaders, including Brinda Karat and M A Baby, were detained during a protest outside the ED headquarters in Delhi against searches at the residence of former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said members of the INDIA bloc were likely to meet in the first week of June to discuss a joint strategy, while asserting that the opposition camp was prepared for a prolonged political battle.
Siddaramaiah met Rahul Gandhi to discuss his future role within the Congress party after resigning as Chief Minister of Karnataka. The meeting addressed his potential future roles and the formation of the new Karnataka government.
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) staged a protest in Panchkula, alleging that the BJP government in Haryana is unfairly recruiting individuals from outside the state for government jobs, thereby depriving local youth of employment opportunities.
Sources said the party top brass including Gandhi and Kharge held several hours of discussions with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, apart from meeting them separately, and is likely to take a call on a possible change of guard in the state after the Rajya Sabha polls, which are due next month.
In the Opposition camp, the Congress, which contested 99 seats, won 19 constituencies, while the Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF and Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal secured two seats each, and the Trinamool Congress bagged one constituency.
V D Satheesan, a 61-year-old lawyer-turned-politician, has emerged as a prominent figure in Kerala politics, known for his aggressive opposition to the Left government and his role in revitalising the Congress party. His journey from student politics to a key leadership position highlights his strategic acumen and dedication to addressing local issues.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely to resign, potentially paving the way for his deputy DK Shivakumar to take over. The move follows reported pressure from the Congress high command, though the party has denied any official decision. Speculation is rife as political tensions rise in the state.
The Congress party is seeking one Rajya Sabha seat in Jharkhand from the JMM and plans to discuss the matter with Chief Minister Hemant Soren, according to AICC Jharkhand in-charge K Raju.
The Opposition had the numbers to win one Rajya Sabha seat from Bihar. As it turned out, four MLAs skipped the voting, helping the NDA to sweep the polls.
The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and the Congress Legislature Party have decided to extend its full support to the TVK to form the government, AICC Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar said in a statement citing TVK chief Vijay's request seeking support.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has accused the state government of imposing arbitrary conditions on crop purchases, alleging anti-farmer policies and demanding compensation for weather-related crop damage.
The Congress party has announced VD Satheesan as the next chief minister of Kerala, ending days of speculation. The decision was revealed at a press conference in New Delhi.
A special court in Mumbai discharged NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar and others in a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate concerning an alleged Rs 25,000 crore scam at the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank (MSCB).
The Bihar cabinet has expanded significantly with 32 new ministers taking oath, including Nishant Kumar, son of JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar. The expansion includes representatives from all five NDA constituents in the state.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has accused the BJP of orchestrating recent blasts in the state, alleging it's part of their strategy for the upcoming assembly elections. The BJP has strongly refuted these claims, demanding proof or Mann's resignation, while the state DGP suggests Pakistani ISI involvement.
The Supreme Court has expressed strong displeasure over statements made by politicians regarding the Shiv Sena symbol row case, cautioning them about making irresponsible comments.
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) staged a protest in Panchkula, alleging that the BJP government in Haryana is unfairly recruiting individuals from outside the state for government jobs, thereby depriving local youth of employment opportunities.
The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai announced that the Congress will be part of the new government in Tamil Nadu led by Vijay's TVK, with discussions underway for ministerial posts and a Rajya Sabha seat.
Outgoing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed a meeting of newly-elected MLAs of her party and stated she will not resign from her post in the wake of assembly poll results and the Centre can dismiss her.
Police in Kochi have arrested another individual in connection with a racket allegedly involved in supplying forged documents for organ donors and recipients. The accused, Rasheeda, is the wife of the prime suspect, Najeeb, who is currently absconding. This follows the arrest of several others involved in the forgery of documents required for organ donation.
'He worked over time to become the natural claimant,' a senior UDF leader observed. 'Others had organisational stature, but Satheesan had momentum.' For the Congress, it may signal the beginning of a new leadership template -- one where performance, communication and grassroots credibility increasingly outweigh inherited power structures in deciding who leads the party into its next phase.
Congress leaders in Kerala have decided to avoid naming preferred candidates for the chief minister's post to prevent internal disputes before the announcement of the Kerala Assembly election results on May 4.
Police in Kerala are investigating the potential involvement of hospitals in a racket that forged documents for organ donations. Six people have been arrested in connection with the scam, and the investigation is expanding to examine how hospital procedures may have been bypassed.
Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar informed TVK chief Vijay that his party lacks the necessary support to form the government. TVK is intensifying efforts to gain support from Left parties, VCK, and IUML. The Governor's decision has sparked protests and political debate in the state.
Police in Kerala have arrested a key suspect in a racket involving the supply of forged documents for organ donors and recipients. The accused, identified as Najeeb, was apprehended in Uttar Pradesh and is believed to have been planning to escape to Nepal. The investigation has uncovered a network involved in forging various official documents required for organ donation.
Suvendu Adhikari has been elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party in West Bengal, paving the way for him to become the state's first BJP chief minister.
The Congress party is considering supporting TVK in forming a government in Tamil Nadu, following a request from TVK chief Vijay. The party leadership has directed the Tamil Nadu unit to make a final decision, keeping in mind the state's sentiments and commitment to a secular government.
Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan expressed confidence in V D Satheesan's ability to lead Kerala as Chief Minister, emphasising the need for a strong team to meet public expectations. He highlighted the importance of unity within the party and the focus on public welfare.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association's request for additional complimentary tickets led to the shifting of IPL final and playoff matches from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, according to a BCCI source.
A special court in Mumbai discharged NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar and others in a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate concerning an alleged Rs 25,000 crore scam at the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank (MSCB). The court stated that the money laundering case could not proceed without a predicate offence.
The Congress party in Haryana boycotted a special session of the state assembly, accusing the ruling BJP of using the platform for political propaganda related to a defeated Constitution amendment bill on women's reservation. The BJP criticised the Congress's move as anti-women.
Police in Kerala have arrested five individuals following searches at multiple locations, uncovering a racket allegedly providing forged documents for organ donors and recipients. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities looking into possible links to individuals in other states.
In a state known for high political literacy and ideological mobilisation, the Congress' inability to quickly settle on a leader after securing a massive mandate has fed a narrative that the party remains excessively dependent on Delhi, deeply faction-ridden and vulnerable to internal sabotage
'If Congress had aligned with the TVK before the election, we would have won almost a two-thirds majority.'
The DMK has strongly criticised the Congress party for exiting their alliance in Tamil Nadu, accusing them of betrayal and opportunistic behaviour. The DMK claims the Congress has undermined the stability of the state government and risked the progress made in the last five years.
Already, within the week of the election results it became apparent that the Congress' DNA has not changed from its traditional approach to politics as but a game of thrones, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
