BJPs decisive victory in Bengal, bags Assam, gets Puducherry with allies
Vijays TVK stars in TN blockbuster, UDF bags Kerala * People have shown faith in BJP, our party synonymous with good governance: PM KOLKATA/CHENNAI/ DELHI, May 4: Extending its saffron brushstroke in the east, the BJP was today set for a decisive win over the TMC in long elusive West Bengal and headed for another term in Assam while actor-politician Vijays TVK made a stunning debut in Tamil Nadu as the largest single party in terms of seats won or [] The post BJPs decisive victory in Bengal, bags Assam, gets Puducherry with allies appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Stars Congratulate Vijay on Election Victory, Signaling a New Political Era in Tamil Nadu
Chennai, May 5: In a remarkable display of support, numerous stars from the South Indian film industry congratulated actor and politician Vijay on the impressive performance of his party, Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Renowned personalities such as A.R. Rahman, Vikram, Vijay Deverakonda, Sivakarthikeyan, Kajal Aggarwal, and Ram Pothineni took ... Read more Stars Congratulate Vijay on Election Victory, Signaling a New Political Era in Tamil Nadu
BJP conquers Bengal, TVK wins the day in TN
Saffron party bags Assam; Left loses last bastion as Congress-led UDF emerges victorious in Kerala; NDA retains Puducherry New Delhi/Kolkata/Chennai: The BJP is set to form its first government in West Bengal with a landslide victory in the state polls as the Election Commissions (EC) trends on Monday showed that the party has gone past []
DMK retains core vote share with better seat conversion, but stalwarts lose
The party was eclipsed by TVK not only in Chennai long considered its stronghold but also in Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram districts. Ministers who lost include Duraimurugan, T.M. Anbarasan, T.R.B. Rajaa, and Ma. Subramanian
TVK takes 14 of 16 Chennai constituencies; CM Stalin loses
Governor Arlekar likely to arrive in Chennai on Tuesday morning
TVK bags most seats in Chennais neighbouring districts
New Delhi: Delhi Capitals will need to stop oscillating between sublime and suicidal to overcome their streak of three painful losses at home when they take on an equally desperate Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League here on Tuesday. Both sides are on eight points from nine games and with five matches remaining, []
Kolkata, May 4:In a mandate as sweeping as it is symbolic, the BJP on Monday scripted history by winning 202 seats to secure more than a two-thirds majority in the West Bengal assembly polls, ending the TMCs 15-year rule, and decisively shifting the states ideological and political centre of gravity. The verdict acquired added political drama and symbolic heft as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was defeated in the prestigious Bhabanipur seat by BJPs Suvendu Adhikari, capping a stunning turnaround after initial trends appeared to favour the TMC supremo. What began as tentative early leads soon hardened into a decisive wave, with the BJP winning 202 seats and leading in five, while the TMC trailed far behind, managing to win 73 and leading in eight seats, according to Election Commission data at 11.10pm. The scale, spread and speed of the BJP surge -breaching the halfway mark of 148 in the 294-member House well before counting reached its midpoint- pointed not merely to a change of guard but to a structural realignment in Bengal politics. For the first time since 1972, West Bengal appears set to be governed by a party that is also in power at the Centre -a shift with deep administrative and political implications. The result also marked the BJPs decisive breach of its last major eastern bastion, completing its saffron arc across 'Anga, Banga and Kalinga' (Bihar, Bengal and Odisha) and significantly altering the national political balance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the mandate, saying the Lotus blooms in West Bengal and that the party would work to fulfil the aspirations of the people. At the heart of the BJPs campaign was Modi himself, whose high-voltage rallies and direct voter connect made him the central face of the partys push in Bengal, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah functioned as the chief strategist -stitching together booth-level networks, candidate selection and social coalitions. The partys rise in Bengal has been neither sudden nor accidental. Since its 2019 Lok Sabha breakthrough, the BJP has treated the state not merely as another electoral target but as a political and ideological challenge. From a marginal vote share of around four per cent in 2011, the BJP surged to nearly 40 per cent in 2019 and then secured 77 seats in the 2021 Assembly elections, displacing the Left and Congress as the principal challenger to the TMC. Yet, converting that expansion into power had remained elusive until now. As counting progressed through the day, early leads consolidated into a near sweep. The BJPs advance cut across geographies -from north Bengal to Junglemahal to south Bengal, from border districts to industrial belt- indicating a statewide wave rather than region-specific gains. Seats such as Dinhata, Gosaba, Baghmundi, Bankura, Binpur and Nayagram pointed to deep inroads in tribal and rural belts, while gains in Asansol Dakshin, Durgapur Purba and other urban pockets reflected consolidation in industrial and semi-urban regions. Early wins in Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Monteswar, Bhatar, Medinipur and Asansol Dakshin reinforced the breadth of the surge. In contrast, the TMCs resistance appeared fragmented. District-level patterns pointed to a sharp erosion, with the TMC struggling to hold ground in several regions of north Bengal and Junglemahal. The vote share data underscored the depth of the shift. The BJPs vote share climbed to around 45 per cent from 38 per cent in 2021, while the TMCs dropped to nearly 40.94 per cent from 48 percent. A key point lay in the 177 constituencies where voter deletions had exceeded past victory margins -a latent factor that appears to have translated into a decisive political shift. In these seats, the BJP not only retained its earlier gains but also made significant inroads into TMC-held territories, suggesting a deeper realignment rather than a mere swing. The scale of the setback was also reflected in the fortunes of senior TMC leaders. At least 20 ministers were defeated, including Bratya Basu, Manas Ranjan Bhunia, Shashi Panja and Chandrima Bhattacharya. In Sabang, Bhunia, a multi-term winner, lost, while in Dinhata, Udayan Guha was defeated. In Kolkata, BJPs Purnima Chakraborty defeated state industry minister Shashi Panja, pointing to cracks even in urban bastions. For a party that had built its dominance on welfare delivery, centralised authority and booth-level control, the erosion appeared simultaneous across organisational layers. In a dramatic, high-stakes contest that mirrored the political theatre of Nandigram five years ago, Adhikari defeated Banerjee in Bhabanipur by 15,105 votes after all 20 rounds of counting, according to Election Commission data. I thank the people of Bhabanipur for voting for me and ensuring a margin of over 15,000 votes, Adhikari said after securing victory and collecting his winning certificate. The outcome was a replay of the 2021 Nandigram election, where Adhikari had unseated Banerjee in a fiercely fought battle that reshaped Bengals political narrative. Adhikari, once a close aide of Banerjee and a key architect of the TMCs rise in districts like East Midnapore, now emerges as a frontrunner in discussions over the chief ministerial face of the BJP government. Other names, including state president Samik Bhattacharya, Union minister Sukanta Majumdar and Swapan Dasgupta, are also doing the rounds. The verdict represents a watershed moment for the BJP. From a marginal presence in Bengal in the late 1990s -aided initially by its alliance with the TMC -the party has now completed a steady climb to power and dismantled the very party that once facilitated its entry in the state, three decades ago. Politically, the Monday poll verdict reinforced the BJPs ability to dislodge entrenched regional forces. However, the mandate also brings challenges governing a politically polarised state, managing local leadership equations, and delivering on promises related to development, law and order and administrative reform. For the TMC, the verdict signals a structural rupture. After 15 years in power, the party faces the difficult transition from a dominant ruling force to an opposition formation, with anti-incumbency, corruption allegations, governance fatigue and organisational centralisation converging into a decisive setback. West Bengal, long defined by extended phases of single-party dominance, now appears to be entering a more competitive, bipolar political phase. For the BJP, Bengal is no longer a frontier; it is a governance test. For the TMC, the battle shifts from retaining power to reclaiming relevance. And for Bengal, the moment marks not just a change in government, but a reordering of its political landscape. NDA set to form Govt in Assam for 3rd straight term The ruling NDA is set to form the government in Assam for the third consecutive term after securing a two-thirds majority, with a record high of 102 seats in the 126-member assembly, while the Congress-led Opposition delivered its worst performance in recent times on Monday. The BJP, which contested 90 seats, won 82, while its allies -- the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), which contested 11 seats, and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which fought in 26 seats -- bagged 10 constituencies each. The saffron party secured a majority on its own for the first time in the state. It had won 60 seats in the previous two polls in 2021 and 2016. 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. Raijor Dal, an opposition alliance partner, had contested 13 seats, while the other parties in the camp -- Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), CPI(M) and APHLC -- drew a blank. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma won the Jalukbari constituency for the sixth consecutive term, defeating Congress candidate Bidisha Neog by 89,434 votes. In a major blow to the Congress, its state president Gaurav Gogoi lost in Jorhat to veteran politician and sitting BJP MLA Hitendranath Goswami by 23,181 votes. Among the prominent BJP winners are ministers Ajanta Neog (Golaghat), Ranoj Pegu (Dhemaji), Pijush Hazarika (Jagiroad), Ashok Singhal (Dhekiajuli), Kaushik Rai (Lakhipur), Prashanta Phukan (Dibrugarh), Krishnendu Paul (Patharkandi) and Bimal Borah (Tingkhong). Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary won from Tamulpur constituency by defeating former BTC chief Pramod Boro of the UPPL. Sitting BJP MLAs Mrinal Saikia (Khumtai), Bhuban Pegu (Jonai), Rama Kanta Dewri (Morigaon), Rupak Sarmah (Nagaon-Batadraba), Paramanda Rajbongshi (Sipajhar), Utpal Borah (Gohpur), Biswajit Phukan (Sarupathar), Binod Hazarika (Chabua-Lahowal), Taranga Gogoi (Naharkatia), Bhaskar Sharma (Margherita), Rupjyoti Kurmi (Mariani) and Bhuban Gam (Majuli) also emerged victorious. AGP ministers Atul Bora and Keshav Mahanta retained their Bokakhat and Kaliabor constituencies, respectively, while first-timer Tapan Das won the Dimoria seat. Among the BPF candidates, cabinet minister Charan Boro retained his Mazbat constituency while the others who won are Maneswar Brahma (Baksa), Paniram Brahma (Sidli-Chirang), Thaneswar Basumatary (Manas), Rihon Daimary (Udalguri) and BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary's wife Sewli Mohilary from Kokrajhar. Prominent Congress candidates who won the polls are sitting MLAs Wajed Ali Choudhury (Birsing Jarua), Jakir Hussain Sikdar (Pakabetbari), Rekibuddin Ahmed (Chamaria) and Nurul Huda (Rupahihat). Other winners from the party include Aminul Haque Laskar (Sonai), Joy Prakash Das (Nowboicha), Tanzil Hussain (Samaguri), Asif Mohammad Nazar (Laharighat) and Aftabuddin Mollah (Jaleswar). AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal won from Binnakandi and his party member Mazibur Rahman from Dalgaon. Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi retained the Sibsagar seat, while another party member Mehboob Muktar won the Dhing seat and Trinamool Congress' Sherman Ali Ahmed won from Mandia. Among the prominent candidates who lost the polls are Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing assembly, Debabrata Saikia, Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Saikia, and former Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Ripun Bora. Among the 59 women who contested the polls, only six could manage to win, with four from the BJP, and one each from its allies AGP and BPF, while only one won from Congress. Polling in all 126 assembly constituencies in the state was held in a single phase on April 9 with 722 candidates in fray. UDF sweeps to power in Kerela Lotus blooms in 3 seats Kerala on Monday witnessed a sharp political reset as the state electors voted out the last Left government in the country, bringing back the Congress to the ruling saddle after a gap of 10 years, while the BJP broke through a long-standing electoral drought by winning three seats. The Congress-led UDF swept aside a decade of Left rule under Pinarayi Vijayan with a decisive Assembly victory, with the national party adding the third southern state to be ruled by it, in its kitty. The party is in power in Karnataka and Telangana. While Congress' vote share stood at 28.79 per cent, that of CPI (M) was 21.77 per cent. Congress ally IUML had a voteshare of 11.01 per cent. Apart from strong anti-incumbency against the government, the results of the April 9 polls also indicated a consolidation of support across sections of society in favour of the United Democratic Front, which had been in opposition to the Left dispensation for the past decade. The UDF won 102 seats, while the CPI(M)-headed LDF netted 35 seats, according to Election Commission data on counting of votes for 140 constituencies. The outcome also marked the absence of the Left from governance in any Indian state for the first time in five decades. The ire against the government was so strong that 13 ministers in the cabinet suffered defeat in the political tsunami unleashed by the UDF. Not only the Congress, but its key allies, including the IUML, the Kerala Congress also secured massive victory in the polls, which saw the complete erasure of the LDF in some key districts. At the same time, the LDF partners, including the CPI(M), lost many seats, while a key partner, Kerala Congress (M), was reduced to zero in a humiliating outcome in the polls. Top contenders for the Chief Minister's post, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, won their seats with comfortable margins, setting the stage for the next step in discussions on the post. Of the 21 cabinet members, only Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, P A Mohamed Riyas, K Rajan, G R Anil, K N Balagopal, P Prasad, and Saji Cherian emerged victorious. The ministers who lost the election included Veena George, M B Rajesh, O R Kelu, R Bindhu, J Chinchurani, P Rajeev, K B Ganesh Kumar, V N Vasavan, V Sivankutty, V Abdurahiman, Kadannappally Ramachandran A K Saseendran and Roshy Augustine. LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan also lost his sitting seat of Perambra in Kozhikode district. The BJP's bid to make strong inroads in Kerala dominated by UDF and LDF got a slight push with the party winning three seats-- Nemom and Kazhakoottam in Thiruvananthapuram district and Chathannoor in Kollam. BJP candidate from Chathannoor, B B Gopakumar, won by 4,398 votes. In Nemom, party state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar triumphed with a margin of over 3,000 votes, while former Union Minister V Muraleedharan won Kazhakoottam with a narrow margin. Congress general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra thanked the people of the state for their overwhelming support and vowed to work diligently towards building a better future for them. In a post on X, Vadra said, To all my brothers and sisters in Keralam, thank you for your faith and for your overwhelming support. The trust you have placed in us will be the UDF's guiding force as we work hard towards building a better future for each one of you. I sincerely hope that our gratitude to you will be evident each day of the next five years as we strive to fulfil our commitments to you with honesty and humility, she added. Reacting to the outcome, AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal said the UDF's sweeping victory was a clear verdict against the arrogance, corruption, and nepotism of the CPI(M)-led government headed by CM Vijayan. Addressing a press conference, Venugopal said the outcome reflected public anger against what he termed 10 years of misrule by the Left government. He claimed that Vijayan's victory in his home constituency, Dharmadam, was only technical, alleging that the CM trailed the UDF candidate in the initial rounds of counting and failed to secure a majority in his own village. He just escaped. He suffered a setback even in his home turf. He was the only person who did not realise the people's mood in this election, Venugopal claimed. In a major political upset for the CPI(M), leaders who had revolted against the party just ahead of the polls and joined the UDF camp, including veteran leader G Sudhakaran, P V Kunhikrishnan and T K Govindan, breached the Left strongholds of Ambalappuzha, Payyannur and Taliparamba seats. CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said the LDF would examine the reasons behind its defeat and take corrective measures. Speaking to reporters, Govindan said every aspect that led to the defeat would be analysed. He thanked LDF workers and the people who voted for the front. The LDF will evaluate and study the defeat, after which required corrections will be made. We expect the support of the people for it, he said. On defeats in traditional party strongholds, Govindan said the LDF had suffered a major setback across Kerala. We will carry out effective organisational work to correct the issues that led to the defeat, he said. BJP leader Chandrasekhar told reporters that as contended by him from the beginning his was an anti-CPI(M) election as the people were fed up with their corruption and alleged misappropriation of gold from Sabarimala. Chandrasekhar said that right from the start of the election campaign, both the Congress and CPI(M) said that BJP will not get even one seat. He also said that he knew right from the beginning that the CPI(M) will not win this time, no matter what it does. Meanwhile, the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly will have 11 women MLAs, one less than in the previous House. The outgoing Assembly had 12 women legislators, a majority of them from the CPI(M). Vijay's TVK emerges giant slayer in Tamil Nadu Actor-politician Vijay's TVK on Monday created a record of sorts in the electoral history of Tamil Nadu and emerged as the single largest party by delivering a shock defeat to incumbent DMK and its president, Chief Minister MK Stalin in his Kolathur constituency, while the AIADMK was pushed to a distant third spot. This was the first time since 1967, when the first non-Congress government (DMK) came to power in the state, that a party other than the two Dravidian heavyweights emerged victorious in the hustings. Vijay and TVK have many firsts to their credit and the the party founder will be the first person from a minority religion -Christianity- to helm the state. While Vijay won from both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies, his party has netted 89 seats and was leading in 18 more and is on course to become the single largest party in the 234-member House. Elections were held on April 23 and the counting of votes done on Monday. Perhaps the biggest shock was CM Stalin being defeated by a margin of 8,795 votes in his Kolathur constituency by little known V S Babu, who was formerly with the DMK and an ex-MLA. More than 10 ministers including Geetha Jeevan and Ma Subramanian were defeated. Stalin had last tasted defeat in 1991. Even Deputy CM Udhayanidhi's prospects appeared dim for a while as he trailed behind the TVK nominee in Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni. Eventually, he won. As soon as it became clear that TVK was inching towards an unprecedented, huge win in its debut polls, party workers and supporters gathered in front of party office at Panaiyur here and burst firecrackers and distributed sweets. Also, Vijay's victory and often-repeated assurance of share in power to like-minded parties is expected to open a new chapter in the history of the state and TVK supporters expect the Congress (5), IUML (2), Left parties (4), VCK (2) and PMK (5) as well to offer support and have a share in power. Together such parties have won or leading in a total of 18 seats. TVK needs 118 seats to form government. This will the first time in Tamil Nadu that a party will assume power a little over two years after its founding. TVK has clocked nearly 35 per cent (34.92) vote share in its debut polls. The TVK was launched in February 2024. While the DMK has won 48 seats and is leading in 12 constituencies (24.20 per cent voteshare), AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami won by a record margin of 98,110 votes in his home segment of Edapadi in Salem district. The AIADMK has won 41 seats and is leading in six segments (21.25 per cent voteshare). While the party's seniors, including C Ve Shanmugam and SP Velumani won hands down, many others, such as former minister P Thangamani, suffered shock defeats. Interestingly, the TVK made heavy inroads in the AIADMK's bastion, western Tamil Nadu that includes Coimbatore, even as DMK emerged victorious in some seats. DMK President and outgoing Chief Minister Stalin took the defeat in his stride and said that his party bowed and accepted the people's verdict. He said he was truthful to all sections of people and had acted as per his conscience and also worked beyond his capacity for people's welfare. He asserted that his party, which worked well as the ruling party would from now on work well as the main opposition party. Stalin said in his public life, he had seen lot of victories and defeats as well and DMK's political journey will continue without any slackness. He said ideology is important rather than victories and defeats alone. AIADMK general secretary Palaniswami said that he accepts the people's verdict in the elections. In a statement here, he said, I express my gratitude to all the people, who rose up and performed their democratic duty in the assembly elections. Stating that the people were judges here, he said, Therefore, I wholeheartedly accept the decision given by the people. He said, We will soon recover from this setback. Meanwhile, scores of tinsel town names, including 'superstar' Rajinikanth greeted Vijay on his poll show. National award winner Dhanush, musician Anirudh Ravichander and many others extended their greetings. Interestingly, among the TVK winners was actor-director Srinath, who defeated state minister P Geetha Jeevan in Thoothukudi. NDA retains Puducherry Riding a pro-incumbency wave, the AINRC-led NDA emerged victorious in the April 9 Puducherry Assembly elections, all set to form the government for a successive term. AINRC leader and Chief Minister N Rangasamy won from both the seats that he contested--Thattanchavady and Mangalam, even as the party won a total of 11 seats and was leading in one, according to latest Election Commission figures. Elections to 30 seats were held on April 9. The territorial assembly also has three nominated members to the House. NDA constituent BJP won from four seats while other coalition members--AIADMK and LJK, won from one seat each. Winners from BJP included party senior and incumbent minister A Namassivayam. The NDA's victory came on a day when actor Vijay-led TVK won in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and also emerged victorious from two seats in the UT. Puducherry, a tiny UT located about 160 km from Chennai, borders Tamil Nadu districts Cuddalore and Villupuram on either sides. Opposition DMK won five seats and Congress one. While the CM trounced Neyam Makkal Kazhagam rival E Vinayagam by 4441 votes in Thattanchavady, his pocket borough seat, Rangasamy emerged victorious in Managalam too, defeating DMK's SS Rangan by 7050 votes. This is not the first time that Rangasamy has sought to contest from two seats. He contested in Yanam and Thattanchavady in the 2021 Assembly polls. He however was trounced in Yanam and was successful in Thattanchavady. He may have to now vacate one of the seats. Key losers include former CM Ve Vaithilingam at the hands of Rangasamy. Time for change, not revenge: PM Modi As the BJP swept the assembly elections in West Bengal for the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the state has been finally freed from fear and that it was a time for change, not revenge, as he appealed to all parties to shun the culture of political violence and focus on the future of the state. Addressing the jubilant party workers at the BJP headquarters after the win in assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry, PM Modi said the Congress, TMC, and others had been punished severely for opposing the recent women's reservation bill. He said that the Samajwadi Party would also face the wrath of women very soon, in an apparent reference to the 2027 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. In his nearly 50-minute speech, the PM said the elections in West Bengal had been special this year, as earlier they were marred by violence, fear, and the death of innocent people. But this time the news was different as peaceful voting took place in West Bengal and for the first time, no one lost their life during voting, he said. As Bengal enters a new phase of change, I also want to make an earnest appeal to every political party in Bengal. Over the past decades in Bengal, countless lives have been ruined due to political violence. I firmly believe that this election culture of Bengal must change from today onwards. Today, when the BJP has won, the talk should not be of revenge, but of change; not of fear, but of the future, he said and urged the parties to end the vicious circle of violence. PM Modi said it was a special day in many ways as it heralds a bright future for the country. It is a day of trust in the great democracy of India, trust in the politics of performance, trust in the resolve of stability, trust in the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat. I bow before the people of West Bengal, Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Keralam, he said at the victory celebration event where BJP President Nitin Nabin, Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, among others, were present. PM Modi said on November 14 last year, when the Bihar election results came in, he told the BJP workers from this very spot that the Ganga flows onward from Bihar all the way to Ganga Sagar (in West Bengal). And today, with victory in West Bengal, from Gangotri (Uttarakhand) to Ganga Sagar (West Bengal), it is nothing but the lotus in full bloom. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal today, in these states surrounding Mother Ganga, there are BJP-NDA governments, he said. The PM said winning and losing are a natural part of democracy and politics, but the people of the five states have shown the world why the country is the mother of democracy. He said women's participation in this election had been exceptionally high and this was emerging as the brightest picture of Indian democracy. Women power is now rapidly progressing towards building a developed India. However, a few days ago, the Congress and its allies blocked this momentum of women's power. These anti-women parties prevented the amendment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam from being passed in Parliament. That is why I said a few days ago that parties opposing the women's reservation bill will have to face the wrath of women. Today, sisters and daughters have punished the Congress, TMC, and DMK, PM Modi said. He said the Congress had certainly benefited from the 10 years of misrule by the Left in Kerala, but expressed confidence that the mothers and sisters of Kerala will also definitely teach the Congress a lesson in the next elections. The Samajwadi Party, which has blocked women's reservation in Parliament, will also have to face the opposition of the women of Uttar Pradesh. No matter what the anti-women Samajwadi Party does, it will never be able to wash away its sins, the PM said. Referring to Assam, he said that along with the river Ganga, the Brahmaputra has also showered immense blessings upon the BJP, and the blessings of Maa Kamakhya have been with the party. The people of Assam have trusted the BJP-NDA for the third consecutive time, he said. PM Modi said that in 2021, the NDA put forward the vision of BEST Puducherry. The people of Puducherry trusted in the vision and blessed the alliance. I want to assure the youth and fishermen of Puducherry that we will keep working for your bright future. The prosperity of Puducherry is our resolve, he said. The PM said the BJP-NDA governments are in power in more than 20 states of the country. Our mantra is 'citizen is god'. We are dedicated to serving the people; therefore, the people are placing more and more trust in the BJP. The people are clearly seeing that where there is BJP, there is good governance. Where there is BJP, there is development, he said. PM Modi said that with the BJP's victory in West Bengal, the soul of Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee must be at peace now. I respectfully bow to the people of Bengal, the people of Assam, the people of Puducherry, and the people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala today; I salute them all. Today, I also heartily congratulate the countless workers of the BJP. Every small and big worker of the BJP has once again performed a miracle, has made the lotus bloom. You have created a new history, he said. After his speech, the PM held a meeting at the BJP headquarters with Nabin, Shah, Singh and former party chief J P Nadda. Result aftershocks to be felt all the way up to 2029: CM Omar Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday, while describing the stunning assembly election results in the West Bengal and the Tamil Nadu as political earthquakes, cautioned that their (results') aftershocks would be felt far and wide for a long time, probably all the way up to 2029. CM Omar shared this measured reaction on his personal X handle - where earlier in his instant first reaction, presumably also to the early trends vis--vis assembly election results, he actually created a flutter with his two-word tweet. Bloody hell!! was his ambiguous (the very first) tweet, which he posted with emoticons sharing an expression of disbelief on X handle at 11:01 am on Monday, May 4, 2026. Though the Chief Minister left ample scope for its (tweets) interpretations yet it was read directly in relation to the assembly election result trends by millions of his followers. By evening, CM Omars enigmatic two-word post had already garnered 1.8 million views and 23,200 plus likes. However, later, he posted a guarded post wherein he, probably hinting towards current cacophony that has crept in news bulletins, talked about his imagery of sane and sensible interpretation of the trends and results identifying them with those presented by ace veteran broadcaster Prannoy Roy. In the same post, he mentioned the after-effects of the political-earthquake that shook West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and their lingering impact to be experienced for a long time. Elections in India have always meant @PrannoyRoy7749 for sane, sensible interpretation of the trends & results and thats why today the screens in my office have been tuned to @DeKoderAI to watch the unfolding political earthquake in West Bengal & Tamil Nadu. The aftershocks of these results will be felt far & wide for a long time, probably all the way up to 2029, CM Omar posted. This post too had garnered 380,000 views 4900 plus likes by evening. Notably Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his father Farooq Abdullah, during media interactions in the past couple of days, had exuded confidence about the victory of TMCs Mamata Banerjee, even after the exit poll results, some of which had predicted her partys rout in West Bengal. As far as DMK was concerned, even the exit polls generally had not predicted the defeat of DMK. The NC is part of the INDIA bloc led by Congress. Trinamool Congress and DMK are also constituents of this alliance.
TVK meet in Chennai today; AIADMK and Congress tie-up options on table
The TVK party has become the largest in Tamil Nadu, leading in over 100 constituencies. Plans are now in motion to form the government. Candidates are being called to the party office. Discussions with potential allies like the Congress are expected. The DMK has accepted the election results. This marks a significant shift in Tamil Nadu's political landscape.
Thalapathy Vijay Emerges as a Political Force in Tamil Nadu Elections
Chennai, May 4: South Indian cinema superstar Thalapathy Vijay is making waves in the political arena. His party, the Tamilga Vetria Kazhagam (TVK), has delivered an impressive performance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections of 2026. Vijays party has captured significant attention, surpassing the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Vijay himself won the seats in ... Read more Thalapathy Vijay Emerges as a Political Force in Tamil Nadu Elections
Instead of heading straight to the party office amid the celebrations, Vijay chose to visit his parents' home in Chennai
MK Stalin Faces Defeat in Kolathur, Becomes Second Sitting CM to Lose Election After Jayalalithaa
Chennai, May 4: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin has made history by becoming the second sitting Chief Minister to lose an assembly election, following in the footsteps of Jayalalithaa. This unexpected defeat occurred in the Kolathur constituency. Stalin was defeated by VS Babu of the Tamilaga Vetria Kazhagam (TVK). Babu, a ... Read more MK Stalin Faces Defeat in Kolathur, Becomes Second Sitting CM to Lose Election After Jayalalithaa
Watch: Major political shift in Chennai as TVK wins 14 seats
Chennai has delivered a clear and decisive verdict. Out of 16 Assembly constituencies in the city, actor Vijays Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has won 14 seats, leaving the DMK with just two. The only seats retained by the DMK are Harbour and ChepaukThiruvallikeni.
Chief Minister Stalin, several cabinet colleagues defeated
When Vijay hailed Trisha as Kundavai, what she hates about him
Trisha Krishnan visited Vijays residence in Chennai on Monday, at a time when his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is leading in trends for the Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026. Trishas visit has sparked nostalgia around her long-standing association with Vijay. The duo reunited on screen in Leo after a gap of 15 years, reminding fans of their iconic pairing.
DMK wins two of five constituencies in north Chennai
While Udhayanidhi Stalin defeated TVK candidate D. Selvam to win the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly Constituency, P.K. Sekarbabu established a lead in the later rounds of counting and defeated Sinora P.S. Ashok of the TVK in Harbour
No wins for women candidates of DMK, BJP; TVKs newcomers unseat veterans
The Gen Z vote that shook the Tamil Nadu elections
Change is the word heard in unison among these young voters
Injured Ayush Mhatre likely to be out of action for two months
Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings batter Ayush Mhatre is likely to be out of action for the next couple of months due to a hamstring injury as well as a wrist injury, TOI has learnt.
DMK would function as efficient Opposition, says M. K. Stalin
In a social media message, the DMK president said he accepted the peoples verdict and congratulated the victors on their win
Tamil Nadu election results: Stalin says he worked hard as CM beyond his strength
While thanking the voters for voting for the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), Stalin congratulated the winners.
MK Stalin: The man who wanted to lead DMK to 'Dravidian model 2.0'
Chennai witnessed a stunning electoral upset as M K Stalin's DMK party lost the 2026 polls to the younger TVK. The incumbent Chief Minister, M K Stalin, also faced a personal defeat, his first in a long political career. This outcome dashed hopes for a second term of the Dravidian model government.
IPL 2026: Hardik Pandya Unwell, Rohit Comes In For MI As Surya Elects To Bowl V LSG
Lucknow Super Giants: With skipper Hardik Pandya sitting out because of back spasm, the Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to bowl first against Lucknow Super Giants in Match 47 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India's T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav is leading the Mumbai Indians in the absence of Pandya and said they have made a couple of changes in the playing XI from the side that lost to CSK in Chennai on Saturday. With Pandya out, the Mumbai Indians brought in Corbin Bosch in place of Trent Boult, while Rohit Sharma is back in the mix after an injury break and made it to the Impact Bench. Lucknow Super Giants also made some changes in their Playing XI, handing a debut to Josh Inglis while Mukul Choudhary made way for Akshat Raghuwanshi. Surya said the pitch looks good for bowling first. (Pitch) looks good. A little humid tonight. Hardik's not well tonight, so I'm going to step into his shoes. Corbin Bosch comes in for Trent Boult. And our very own Rohit Sharma is back, said SKY at the toss. MI is not known to be in such positions. At the end of the day, it's just a game, put your chin up and play the game for the reason you play it. Can't say it makes us dangerous, but we can put our best foot forward. Show character, enjoy the game, he added. LSG captain Rishabh Pant said they will try to make the most of their week-long break and recover ground. The only promise from this break is to bring happiness back. Clearing your mindset when you're free. We have three changes: Josh Inglis goes in. Mukul goes out, and Raghuvanshi comes in. Bowling, we'll decide later. Both MI and LSG come into this match struggling for form and with a series of defeats behind them -- MI have lost four out of their last five matches while LSG have suffered heartbreak in their last five games. Playing XIs: Lucknow Super Giants: Mitch Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (c, wk), Akshat Raghuvanshi, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav Impact substitutes: Siddharth M, Digvesh Rathi, Mayank Yadav, Shahbaz Ahmed, Abdul Samad Lucknow Super Giants: Mitch Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (c, wk), Akshat Raghuvanshi, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav Also Read: Live Cricket Score Impact substitutes: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Rawat, Robin Minz, Shardul Thakur, Trent Boult Article Source: IANS
From Reel Hero to Real Power: Vijays Political Entry Turns Blockbuster
As early trends in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections pointed to a stunning debut for actor-turned-politician Vijay, celebrations erupted at his Chennai residence complete with music, memories, and a line from an old film song that suddenly felt prophetic
IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings aim to stay afloat in playoff race
After nine matches each, both sides have eight points in their kitty, with CSK in sixth position on the basis of a superior net run rate
IPL 2026: We Play Every Match To Win, But Relaxed Mode Is Over, Says Munaf Patel
Chennai Super Kings: Delhi Capitals bowling coach Munaf Patel stressed that while every game is played with the intent to win, the side has moved past its relaxed mode and is now firmly focused on maintaining the winning momentum if they are to enter the IPL 2026 playoffs. Both DC and Chennai Super Kings, their opponents in Tuesdays clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, are at eight points. But DC are at seventh spot due to their net run rate being in negative. With both teams in a similar situation, it will be a crucial game for DC to prove that their campaign revival is for real after chasing down 226 against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur. You don't have any other option but to win the match. Obviously, we play every match to win, but now the relaxed mode is over. If you want to qualify, you have to win all the matches. We have won and we have forgotten that. If we keep remembering that, we will lose again. It is better that we forget that and move forward with the momentum of the winning match, said Munaf in the pre-match press conference. DC need a string of consistent performances to climb further in the points table, but their campaign has been hampered by just one victory at home this season. With the tournament entering its business end and surfaces expected to get slower, Munaf expressed full confidence in his premier spin twins, Kuldeep Yadav and skipper Axar Patel, to exploit the conditions. Our job is to motivate them. We tell them about their mistakes and make them improve. Once you are on the ground, my and Hemangs say is over as once you are on the field, the players have to do it all. You can motivate them as much as you want. But until they are motivated, or they can't bowl on their strength, or deliver as per the batters weakness, you can't do anything. Confidence always comes from winning. I always believe that you can't give confidence by losing. You are talking about slow wickets - the spinners who play in the T20 World Cup, Kuldeep and Axar, they are there anyway. There is no question that they won't play because we have one of the best spin bowling units. We don't have a reason to complain about slow wickets. If the wickets are slow, it is better for us because we have top spinners and it will benefit us. At the same time, Munaf also suggested that the pitches, which have seen batters power their way to make 200-plus scores, may not be as sluggish as many expect. If it slows down, it's very good for us. I said earlier that our spinners are one of the best in the tournament. But I feel that the wickets won't be as slow as we think and they used to be before because you get time. If you get 5 days and go somewhere else to play, its fine. If you get a 4-day break, then 4-5 days is enough to make a wicket unless and until the weather changes - if it rains, the wicket is covered, then it can slow down. Otherwise, I don't think that the wickets will be as slow as we think they will be. They won't be that slow I mean, they can be 20 percent, but not 50 percent. It can be absolutely because the wickets are not as slow as we think they will be. But it's not happening as you see, we just played a match in Rajasthan and we chased 226. So I believe that there will be 200 runs made in games by batters. On the tactical front, Munaf dismissed the notion of bowlers blindly imitating successful trends like Krunal Pandya bowling bouncers or slinging deliveries at will or CSK pacer Anshul Kamboj getting immense success by bowling from round the wicket, especially in death overs. They won't be that slow I mean, they can be 20 percent, but not 50 percent. It can be absolutely because the wickets are not as slow as we think they will be. But it's not happening as you see, we just played a match in Rajasthan and we chased 226. So I believe that there will be 200 runs made in games by batters. Also Read: Live Cricket Score For example, you can add a slower ball, you can add a knuckle ball, you can add a bouncer. You can add them. But it's not like you have to go out of the box and do the same thing that if one is successful, everyone will be successful. It's not like that and this is what I think. Article Source: IANS
Max Super Speciality Hospital: Delhi Capitals bowling coach Munaf Patel confirmed that fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has cleared the mandatory concussion standdown period and is 100 percent fit to return to action ahead of the sides crucial clash against five-time champions Chennai Super Kings, to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday evening. Ngidi suffered an unfortunate head injury while fielding in the third over of DCs afternoon game against Punjab Kings on April 25 and was rushed to BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, Pusa Road, in an ambulance via a green corridor created by Delhi Police. Under ICC regulations, a mandatory sevenday standdown applies to players diagnosed with concussion. Even though IPL 2026 Playing Conditions did not spell it out explicitly, Ngidi had to serve that rest period after being discharged from the hospital on the same evening, with scans revealing no major concerns. All bowlers are fit and Lungi is 100 percent fit because he didn't play two games because of the six-day criteria. But he's a hundred percent fit now, said Munaf in the pre-match press conference on Monday. Though Kyle Jamieson did very well to dismiss Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in Jaipur, where DC won by six wickets, he did go for runs. DC would want for Ngidi to partner with left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc as he has been prolific with his repertoire of slower balls, especially in the death overs. Starc marked his return to DC with the prized wicket of the inform Yashasvi Jaiswal and his inclusion has proved to be a timely boost, especially with the side eyeing a spot in the playoffs. The left-arm pacer will be eyeing to take out Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson to set the tone up front while remaining a potent threat in the death overs. Since his IPL comeback in 2025, Starc has taken 17 wickets in 11 innings at an economy of 10.2, including a best of 5-35. Against CSK, he has six wickets from seven games at an economy rate of 7.2. More importantly, DC's results since IPL 2025 are significantly better when Starc clicks he has 14 wickets in wins for them at nine runs per over, compared to just three scalps in losses at an economy rate of 12.5. Absolutely - if a wicket-taker comes in powerplay, your whole plan changes. If a wicket-taker comes in the first six overs, the whole scenario changes. As you can see, scores of 230 and 240 are being chased down because one is unable to pick wickets in power-play. But when your main bowler returns and gets you two wickets in powerplay, it makes a lot of difference. So, bowling in partnerships was somewhere missing for us and now it has been added. Obviously, you get that belief as you have a world-class bowler. You can call him the captain of the bowling unit. He is the main bowler in the fast bowlers. Everyone gets confidence from him, added Munaf. He also admitted that poor returns of Indian pacers Mukesh Kumar and Auqib Nabi meant DC had to revert to going heavy with overseas presence in their bowling attack. Both of our Indian bowlers, Auqib and Mukesh, are new ball bowlers. So, our plan was that we will use both of them because if you use Indian bowlers, you can add foreign players batting. So, that was the plan. But if you don't succeed in the plan, you have to go to plan B. So, we didn't succeed in the plan that we used Indian bowlers and somehow we made a mistake in that. That also meant that David Miller missed out on the clash against RR, while Pathum Nissanka only got his spot back due to an injury to teenaged opener Sahil Parakh. It is difficult to fit in the eleven because there are only four overseas players. There is a reason for that - Sahil was injured and we wanted Pathum to get a chance. We wanted an additional bowler too. So, we played Pathum and we had to play two foreign fast bowlers and you can't let Starc out and Lungi couldn't play at that time. Our plan was that either Pathum or Miller will play. We didn't have another opener because he was injured and so, we went with Pathum. That also meant that David Miller missed out on the clash against RR, while Pathum Nissanka only got his spot back due to an injury to teenaged opener Sahil Parakh. It is difficult to fit in the eleven because there are only four overseas players. There is a reason for that - Sahil was injured and we wanted Pathum to get a chance. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Openers are making 100-150 runs and you are asking us to play Prithvi Shaw. From where should make him play? If the opening partnership is going for 100-250 runs, who should we replace with? We had to change it because Sahil got injured and Pathum has now made 62 runs in last game. So, I don't think we should change it and we won't change it because Sahil is injured. Article Source: IANS
Trisha visits Thalapathy Vijay's house after he leads in Tamil Nadu elections
Amidst his party's strong showing in Tamil Nadu, actor Vijay welcomed actress Trisha Krishnan to his Chennai residence. The visit occurred on Trisha's 43rd birthday, following her prayers at Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. This event fuels ongoing speculation surrounding the popular on-screen pair, known for their successful collaborations.
DMKs fortress of Chennai breached like never before
The DMKs downfall in Chennai is drastic compared to the previous election in 2021, in which the alliance it led not only won all the 16 constituencies in the district.
Vijays political films: Five Tamil movies of the TVK leader that you should watch
These films had Vijay fighting for the common man and their issues
IPL 2026: Kambojs Success Boils Down To His Professionalism, The Way That He Trains, Says Simons
Pacer Anshul Kamboj: Pacer Anshul Kambojs rise to being the joint leading wicket-taker in IPL 2026 has drawn praise from Chennai Super Kings bowling consultant Eric Simons, who credited the youngsters professionalism and training habits as the bedrock of his success in the competition. With 17 wickets in nine matches at an economy rate of 7.54, Kamboj has stepped up to be the leader of the CSK bowling attack in both power-play and back-end overs. In CSKs resurgent win over Mumbai Indians, Kamboj picked 3-32 against Mumbai Indians on Saturday. We have spoken a lot as a bowling unit around the chaos of batting at the moment. What do we focus on? One of the things we decided to go away from was an over-emphasis on lots of different tactics and to make sure that the bowlers walked onto the ground with absolute clarity in their mind as to what they wanted to do - number one and then safety to do that. We will bowl a really good delivery against the six. It is still a good delivery and it might still be the right ball to bowl next and that has been one of the things we have done. Anshul went away and the Anshul you see today was not there this season - it started last year. The things we worked on, he went into the domestic season and worked on different angles and approaches to the crease to be more accurate with his yorkers in particular. We have introduced round the wicket which is no secret now. There are a lot of nuances to what we are doing around the wicket that make him particularly effective. He has picked up wickets and been able to restrict the run rate as well. But I think what it really boils down to is his professionalism, the way that he trains, said Simons in the pre-match press conference on Monday. Ten of those 17 scalps of Kamboj have come in overs 17-20 at an economy rate of 8.6, something which has been critical for CSK after losing pacers Khaleel Ahmed and Nathan Ellis to injuries. Its no secret that Kamboj relishes bowling from round the wicket angle in the death overs and his battle against DC finishers Tristan Stubbs, David Miller and Ashutosh Sharma will be an interesting sub-plot for Tuesdays clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. If you stood next to me and watched the way that he trains, the way that he understands what he is going to do, the simplicity I spoke about and the clarity. I think in the modern game a bowler needs to be clear about what he wants to do and he is very clear about his tactics and he is very clear about what his field setting is. So there is no grey area for him. He knows what he is going to do and I think we are striving to do that with all the bowlers. They have that clarity and that allows them to practice with a great sense of deliberate practice. He knows exactly what he wants to do in a particular day and what he wants to do in a match. It is more about him making batsmen do things than worrying about what batsmen do and react to them. We want them reacting to us as bowlers rather than us reacting to them as batsmen and he is doing that particularly well, elaborated Simons. Discussing the tournament's current standing, where CSK sit at sixth place, Simons believes CSK is finding its identity at the right time when the race to playoffs is still wide open. Some teams have started slowly. I think we have got some momentum. Teams need an identity and sometimes teams get an identity really quickly. Sometimes it comes down to one person scoring runs or one person taking wickets and a team gets some momentum in this tournament. It comes quick and fast, these matches. I don't think we have a sense of our identity now. We always knew the way we wanted to play but the parts have fallen together. I think that is an important aspect of the IPL, reacting to those tough matches. The clarity I spoke about for the bowlers is also there for the batting and the way we play. There has become a bit of a gap between the top four and the rest. We still have our destiny in our own hands and we do know that we can beat any team in the league. If we keep playing to our potential, there is no reason why we can't be on the top of the table. When we play well, we look really unbeatable, he added. Simons further threw light on the strategic complexity introduced by the Impact Player rule in determining the best playing eleven in the IPL. In the old days when you used to play with 11 cricketers, you had to find the most structure. That impact player can be used in different ways. It is about getting the balance right all the time. There are times when it is horses for courses in different situations and trying to make sure you cover all the bases. Understandably, look at a team selection from the outside and just see what happens. A lot of conversation takes place around who is going to play, what are the options. Simons further threw light on the strategic complexity introduced by the Impact Player rule in determining the best playing eleven in the IPL. In the old days when you used to play with 11 cricketers, you had to find the most structure. That impact player can be used in different ways. It is about getting the balance right all the time. Also Read: Live Cricket Score If something happens and some change is going to be made, that is communicated clearly. The most important thing is that players walk onto the field clear of what is going to happen and who is going to play should things change along the way. That has certainly been the complexity that impact players added, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Trisha visits Vijay: On her 43rd birthday, actress Trisha Krishnan visited TVK chief Vijays residence in Chennai as early trends showed his party leading in over 100 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026. The visit has sparked fresh speculation amid Vijays ongoing divorce proceedings.
Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin defeated in Kolathur: who is TVKs V.S. Babu, the winner?
Mr. Stalin is the fourth sitting Chief Minister in Tamil Nadu to lose an Assembly election
TVK chief Vijay gave ticket to his drivers son, now hes on verge of winning in Virugambakkam
In a surprising debut, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate Sabarinathan R, son of the party chief's driver, is leading in Virugambakkam. This human-interest story highlights TVK's strong performance in its first assembly election, with the party showing significant leads across Tamil Nadu, challenging established political forces.
DMKs V Senthil Balaji clinches narrow victory in Coimbatore South
The TVK provided a formidable challenge, with its candidate V Senthilkumar nearly pulling off an upset by securing a massive 57,176 votes.
MS Dhoni Out Of IPL 2026? Chennai Super Kings Coach Provides Big Update: 'Above My Pay Grade'
MS Dhoni is steadily recovering from a calf injury, but Chennai Super Kings bowling consultant Eric Simons confirmed that he has not travelled with the squad to New Delhi for their upcoming IPL 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals.
IPL 2026: MS Dhoni steadily Improving But Hasnt Travelled To New Delhi, Says Eric Simons
Chennai Super Kings: Veteran wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni is steadily recovering from a calf injury, but Chennai Super Kings bowling consultant Eric Simons confirmed that he has not travelled with the squad to New Delhi for their upcoming IPL 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals, to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday. An update on MS Dhoni is way above my pay grade. He is not with us but steadily improving. He will be ready when he is ready and he knows when he is ready to play. No, he hasnt travelled with the team, Simons said in the pre-match press conference. Dhoni hasnt featured in a single game this season, with his last IPL appearance coming against Gujarat Titans on May 25 in the 2025 edition. Five-time champions CSK, meanwhile, sit at sixth place on the points table with four wins from nine games. The equation is straightforward for CSK - they need at least four more victories from their remaining fixtures to stay in the hunt for the playoffs. A positive thing for CSK has been that skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was among the runs in the past two games via unbeaten knocks of 74 and 67 respectively. Describing Gaikwad as a surgeon in this world of chaos batting, Simons noted that the right-handed opener has found his rhythm again. We have been clear about the leadership group and hes clearly the leader of the team. It was just again a case of when he gets his runs. He has had some tough innings in the sense that we have been in trouble. The wickets have been tough and he has battled through them. I think that is the hallmark of a really quality batsman that he doesn't score runs on good wickets. For me I have always called him a surgeon in this world of chaos batting. He is the kind of guy that gets 50 runs in 22 balls and you haven't noticed him. We are starting to see that part of him again. The leadership has always been there. He has always been the captain. It is good that he is now scoring runs but there was never a doubt that he was going to, elaborated Simons. While the likes of Sanju Samson, Urvil Patel and Kartik Sharma have come to the run-making party, Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis are yet to hit substantial knocks. Dube has offered glimpses of his hitting power, but has been patchy in consistency while making 150 runs from eight innings at a strike rate of 140. Brevis, meanwhile, is yet to find rhythm in IPL 2026 - managing only 64 runs across four knocks, averaging 16 with a strike rate of 121 after missing initial few matches due to a side strain. Nothing is really ailing them. In this tournament, we have seen top players struggle for a bit before playing a breakout innings. While the likes of Sanju Samson, Urvil Patel and Kartik Sharma have come to the run-making party, Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis are yet to hit substantial knocks. Dube has offered glimpses of his hitting power, but has been patchy in consistency while making 150 runs from eight innings at a strike rate of 140. Also Read: Live Cricket Score They play in a tough period of the game and you can go out there and try and accelerate the run rates and get out and before you know it two or three innings have gone by. They are both very, very experienced cricketers and very good cricketers with great records. It is just a case of when they come right, added Simons. Article Source: IANS
Tamil Nadu assembly election results 2026: Winners list from TVK
Early trends from Tamil Nadu Assembly seat counting indicate a significant surge for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician Vijay. The party emerged as a major force, briefly leading in over 100 constituencies and becoming the single largest party ahead of established players. Official results have begun to be declared for some seats.
TVK makes inroads into Madurai; ministers P Moorthy and Palanivel Thiagarajan trailing
Actor Vijay's TVK party is making a strong debut in Madurai's assembly elections. The party is leading in several key constituencies, including Madurai East and Madurai Central. Established parties DMK and AIADMK face unexpected challenges. TVK candidates are ahead of sitting ministers and incumbent MLAs. This election marks a significant shift in Madurai's political landscape.
TVK leading in Tamil Nadu, promised 8 gm gold, free cylinders in manifesto
Chennai: As the new-entrant TVK appears likely to emerge as the single largest party and form the government, the focus has now turned to actor-politician Vijays poll promises, including 8 gm gold for marriage, which is worth about Rs 14,000 (22 carat). Vijays assurances in the party manifesto include Rs 2,500 monthly assistance for women Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
TVK's Sengottaiyan wins in Gobichettipalayam
The result carried added significance as Sengottaiyan, a veteran leader with deep roots in the region, shifted from AIADMK to TVK, giving the contest unusual importance. His win suggested his personal influence remained strong and that voters in Gobichettipalayam transferred their trust to him despite his change in party affiliation.
Tamil Nadu assembly election results 2026: Winners list from DMK
As counting commenced, the DMK surged across Tamil Nadu, consolidating strongholds and making steady gains, particularly in urban areas and traditional bastions. The AIADMK-led opposition held select pockets, while actor Vijay's TVK emerged as a significant force, leading in early postal ballot trends.
Inside Thalapathy Vijays Rs 80 crore Neelankarai luxury beach mansion in Chennai
Step inside Thalapathy Vijays Rs 80-crore Neelankarai mansion, a coastal fortress where luxury meets privacy. As his party TVK makes waves in the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections, we explore his minimalist sea-facing sanctuary, complete with a private gym, a swimming pool, and a high-security design tailored for a leader.
Tamil Nadu poll result 2026: Vijays Lights, Camera, Sarkar set to shine in Chennai, say trends
TNs richest candidate Leema Rose Martin leading in Lalgudi
Even as several incumbent DMK ministers, former ADMK ministers, and star candidates are losing their safe seats and stronghold, Leema with a declared net assets at Rs 1,049.5 crore as per her poll nomination papers is maintaining substantial lead in all rounds of vote counting on Monday.
IPL 2026: Bad news for CSK! MS Dhoni skips Delhi trip as injury delays return
Chennai Super Kings face a significant blow as MS Dhoni misses their IPL 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals on Tuesday due to delay in injury recovery. He remains in Chennai for rehabilitation, raising concerns about his availability. This absence impacts CSK's playoff aspirations as they navigate a crucial phase of the tournament.
Palaniswami secured 85,553 votes and is leading by 54,458 in the Edappadi constituency.
TN election results: Actor Srinath registers first win for Vijays TVK
TVK has been leading in 109 constituencies and is on its way towards single largest majority (118 seats are required for forming majority).
Its official? Trisha blushes as she visits Thalapathy Vijays home
Chennai: Celebrations appear to be in full swing at the residence of Vijay, as early trends in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections suggest a major political shift. Actor-turned-politician Vijays party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is currently leading, challenging the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK. Amid this high-voltage political moment, actress Trisha Krishnan Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Political Shift in Tamil Nadu as TVK Gains Momentum in Election Trends
Chennai, May 4: Significant political shifts are emerging in the early trends of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Actor Vijays party, TVK, is rapidly gaining traction, while several prominent BJP figures are trailing behind. This indicates potential major changes in the states political landscape. BJPs state president, Nainar Nagendran, is lagging behind in the Sattur ... Read more Political Shift in Tamil Nadu as TVK Gains Momentum in Election Trends
After 1977, Tamil Nadu might see its 1st non-DMK, non-AIADMK govt as Vijays TVK surges ahead
Actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is poised to reshape Tamil Nadu's political landscape, leading in 109 constituencies in early election results. This strong debut challenges established parties, potentially ending decades of DMK-AIADMK dominance and marking a significant shift in state politics.
Tamil Nadu election results: TVK frontline leaders put up strong performances in early trends
Mr. Vijay, who contested from two seats Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchi East is leading in both seats by a comfortable margin
TVK and the dynamics of disruption
As trends continue to emerge, it is clear that Tamil Nadu is heading in a path it has never taken so far whether it is a majority for the TVK, a non-Dravidian party, or a hung Assembly
Trisha arrives at Thalapathy Vijay`s house on her birthday, watch
Trisha Krishnan was spotted arriving at Vijays Chennai residence on her birthday as TVK surged ahead in Tamil Nadu election trends. The actress visit, coupled with Vijays political momentum, quickly became a talking point online
Vijay's whistle podu moment: TVK set to script first-day-first-show style sweep
Actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is making a strong debut in Tamil Nadu's assembly elections, leading in 107 seats. Early trends suggest a significant political shift, potentially ending the DMK's bid for a third consecutive term and challenging the long-standing dominance of Dravidian parties. Vijay himself is leading in multiple constituencies as celebrations erupt among supporters.
Amid this, actor Trisha Krishnan was spotted at Vijay's Chennai residence.
Trisha Krishnan celebrated her birthday with a visit to the Tirumala temple. Now, the actress reached Vijays home in Chennai, as the election results in Tamil Nadu gained attention, with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, reportedly performing well. Read on!
Vijays TVK wins party status in debut election
Party founder and actor Vijay personally led from the front, holding strong leads in both Perambur and Trichy East constituencies.
Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya struggled against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), making just 18 runs off 23 balls.
As TVK chief Vijay continues to emerge as a strong force in Tamil Nadu during the ongoing vote counting on Monday, actor Tiger Shroff has congratulated to the party with a warm message.
Trisha, On 43rd Birthday, Reaches Vijay's Home In Chennai As TVK Leads
In a video that surfaced online, Trisha was seen arriving by car at Vijay's residence in Chennai
Vridhachalam Assembly Election Results 2026 Live Updates
Police presence outside the party office was scaled down as the day progressed, and cadres began dismantling temporary shelters erected ahead of the results. The thinning crowd and muted activity reflected a sharp shift from the usual election-day bustle.
Major Upset in Tamil Nadu Elections: TVK Leads as CM Stalin Trails in Kolathur
Chennai, May 4: The early trends from the counting of votes in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections reveal a significant upset. DMK leader and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is trailing in his stronghold, the Kolathur constituency, while actor Vijays party, TVK, appears to be gaining a robust lead. After six rounds of counting in Kolathur, ... Read more Major Upset in Tamil Nadu Elections: TVK Leads as CM Stalin Trails in Kolathur
Tiruchirappalli West Assembly Election Results 2026 Live Updates
Tiruchirappalli East Assembly Election Results 2026 Live Updates
Sattur Assembly Election Results 2026 Live Updates
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Desperate Delhi Capitals Seek End To Horror Run At Home vs Chennai Super Kings
Delhi Capitals will need to stop oscillating between sublime and suicidal to overcome their streak of three painful losses at home when they take on an equally desperate Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday.
For Supporters, Thalapathy Vijay Becomes Muthalamaichar Vijay
CHENNAI, May 4: As actor-politician Vijay-led TVK appeared inching towards the majority mark of 118 Assembly seats out of the total 234 segments in Tamil Nadu, celebrations by party workers and fans erupted across the state. Amid chants of TVK and Vijay, party workers gathered outside the party headquarters at Panaiyur near here and distributed sweets and hailed the party founder as Muthalamaichar (Chief Minister) Vijay, who continues to be popular as Thalapathy (Commander, his film title). Meanwhile, visuals of [] The post For Supporters, Thalapathy Vijay Becomes Muthalamaichar Vijay appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
KOLKATA/CHENNAI, May 4: The BJP was forging a possible victory path in West Bengal with leads in 109 seats against the ruling TMCs 63 and surging ahead in Assam while actor-politician Vijays TVK was set for a stunning debut in Tamil Nadu, ahead in 103 seats, leaving the ruling DMK in number three position, according to trends on the Election Commission website. As votes were counted for assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, the east [] The post Election Trends: Saffron Rise In East With BJP Set To Bag Prized WB And Assam, Vijays TVK Smashes Through TN appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
TN polls: TVK pushes DMK behind with leads in 98 seats, AIADMK ahead in 63
CHENNAI: New entrant TVK, led by actor-politician Vijay, was on course for a surprise electoral show on Monday, leading in as many as 98 constituencies when counting of votes polled in the April 23 Assembly elections was on across Tamil Nadu, leaving behind the Dravidian heavyweights DMK and AIADMK. The DMK had little to smile []
TN polls: TVK pushes DMK behind with leads in 83 seats, AIADMK ahead in 54
Chennai, May 04: New entrant TVK, led by actor-politician Vijay, was leading in as many as 83 constituencies on Monday when counting of votes polled in the April 23 Assembly polls was on across Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK was leading in 58 seats while the ruling DMK was ahead in 34, EC data showed. About two hours after the postal ballots were counted and EVMs opened for multi-round counting, Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam surged ahead of its Dravidian rivals-- the DMK and the AIADMK, with the ruling party struggling to catch up. If the trends maintain, Vijay could as well ensure the biggest electoral upset, something in lines with the 1967,1977 wins he had referred to in his campaign speeches. While the Dravidian stalwart CN Annadurai brought the first non-Congress government in Tamil Nadu post-independence in 1967, the charismatic MG Ramachandran (MGR) installed the maiden AIADMK government 10 years later, unseating then DMK government under M Karunanidhi. TVK was leading in most Chennai segments, all considered DMK strongholds and currently represented by the party in the 234-member House. A poor show by DMK could belie most exit polls giving an edge to it, riding on the number of populist measures Chief Minister M K Stalin had implemented in his five year Dravidian model, inclusive governance. According to EC and TV reports, 15 cabinet ministers, including Stalin were trailing. His son and deputy CM Udhayanidhi was also behind in his incumbent Chepauk-Tirvuvallikeni seat, according to a number of reports. Stalin was trailing behind TVK's VS Babu by 1234 votes in Kolathur segment. Vijay was ahead in Tiruchirappalli East by over 3,000 votes at the end of two rounds of counting, according to EC data. BJP is trailing in 26 constituencies and it is ahead in Thali segment alone. TVK is ahead in constituencies including Ponneri, Tiruvallur, Poonamalle, and Avadi. AIADMK is leading in segments including Katpadi, and Guidyattam and party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami is ahead in Edappadi segment by 7003 votes. DMK was leading in segments including Vellore, Anaikattu and Rishivandiyam.
Major Political Shift in Tamil Nadu as Actor-Politician Vijays Party Takes Lead
Chennai, May 4: Early trends from the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections indicate a significant political upheaval. By 10 AM, Vijays party, Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), has shown a remarkable lead. The ruling DMK has slipped to third place behind the AIADMK. According to the Election Commission of India, TVK is leading in 62 assembly seats ... Read more Major Political Shift in Tamil Nadu as Actor-Politician Vijays Party Takes Lead
Kolathur Assembly Election Result 2026: MK Stalin faces AIADMKs Santhana Krishnan Who is ahead?
Votes are being counted in Chennai's Kolathur constituency for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Early trends will reveal the electoral performance of Chief Minister M K Stalin and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Kolathur, a DMK stronghold since 2011, is a key seat to watch. The outcome will signal the DMK's urban hold.
Mid-Airport Scare Triggers Brief Disruption in Chennai
Air Arabias return flight to Sharjah departed over three hours late due to disruptions. The post Mid-Airport Scare Triggers Brief Disruption in Chennai appeared first on Fusion - WeRIndia .
DMK Leads in Tamil Nadu Election Trends, TVK Emerges as Strong Contender
Chennai, May 4: The early trends from the counting of votes for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026 reveal an intriguing scenario. Initial indications from the postal ballot counting show the DMK taking the lead, while actor-politician Vijays TVK has also made a strong start, hinting at a shift in political dynamics. According to the ... Read more DMK Leads in Tamil Nadu Election Trends, TVK Emerges as Strong Contender
Tamil Nadu Votes Count Under Tight Security
Chennai, May 4: As the counting of votes for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections begins, strict security measures are in place at major counting centers in Chennai. The counting of postal ballots commenced at 8 AM, followed by the counting of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) starting at 8:30 AM. This process is being conducted under ... Read more Tamil Nadu Votes Count Under Tight Security
Tamil Nadu Election Results Awaited Amid Tight Security as Vote Counting Begins
Chennai, May 4: As the counting of votes for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections commences, stringent security measures are in place at major counting centers in Chennai. The counting of postal ballots began at 8 AM, followed by the counting of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) starting at 8:30 AM. This process is being conducted under ... Read more Tamil Nadu Election Results Awaited Amid Tight Security as Vote Counting Begins
TN poll results: DMK strongman KN Nehru trails behind TVKs Ramamoorthy in Trichy West
In some booths, the TVK candidate has secured 50-100 votes more than the DMK candidate.
Counting Begins Under Tri-Level Security in Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections
Chennai, May 4: The counting process for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections has commenced in Tiruchirappalli district. The counting of postal ballots began first at Jamal Mohammed College. Representatives from various political parties and election officials are present as the counting gets underway. Strict security measures have been implemented across the campus to ensure that ... Read more Counting Begins Under Tri-Level Security in Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections
Chaos unfolded at Chennai airport when a passenger from an Air Arabia flight made a startling decisionhe opened the emergency exit and jumped out right after landing. When approached by authorities, he cited feelings of nausea as his reason.
How Anshul Kamboj is mastering the death overs for CSK
Anshul Kamboj is emerging as Chennai Super Kings' standout bowler this season, leading their attack with 17 wickets in nine matches. He's particularly effective in death overs, becoming the first to claim 10 wickets in that phase. Coach Stephen Fleming credits Kamboj's dedication to mastering death bowling, highlighting his improved angles and execution.
Tamil Nadu election results: Vijay fan slits his throat over rumours about actors defeat
A devoted supporter of TVK party leader Vijay attempted suicide by slitting his throat in Krishnagiri after hearing rumors of Vijay's potential election loss. Rescued by locals, he is receiving intensive treatment at a government hospital. The incident, occurring before official results, has caused local shock and prompted political leaders to urge supporters against acting on rumors.
Countdown Begins for Tamil Nadu Assembly Election Results: Who Will Wear the Crown of Victory?
Chennai, May 4: Tamil Nadu stands at a significant political crossroads as the counting of votes for the 2026 Assembly elections begins today. The ruling DMK is striving for another term, while the AIADMK-BJP alliance is battling to regain lost ground. Meanwhile, actor-turned-politician Vijays Tamilaga Vetrik Kazhagam (TVK) has emerged as a major new player ... Read more Countdown Begins for Tamil Nadu Assembly Election Results: Who Will Wear the Crown of Victory?
DMK Alliance Poised for Major Victory in Tamil Nadu Elections, Says VCK Leader Thirumavalavan
Chennai, May 4: Thol Thirumavalavan, the president of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), stated on Sunday that the DMK-led alliance is ready for a heavy victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Speaking to reporters at Chennai Airport after returning from Bengaluru, Thirumavalavan based his assessment on extensive grassroots feedback gathered during the campaign. He ... Read more DMK Alliance Poised for Major Victory in Tamil Nadu Elections, Says VCK Leader Thirumavalavan
DMK, AIADMK write to ECI over possibility of disturbances while counting votes today
DMK leaders conduct statewide training for counting agents
Must not hold back on AI adoption for fear of job loss
Journalism is unfolding in an era defined by a deep information paradox, where, despite an explosion of available information, citizens in many democracies are less informed about public affairs, observes N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group.
