Amit Shah will visit West Bengal on Thursday as the BJP prepares to form its first government in the state after winning 207 Assembly seats. The BJP is expected to hold a legislative party meeting before announcing the next Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is set to meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has refused to resign and alleged irregularities in the election process. BJP state president Samik Bhattacharyya said the new Chief Minister’s oath ceremony will take place on May 9, Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary. (PC: X)

Tension gripped Kolkata’s New Market area after a bulldozer entered the busy market during celebrations following the BJP’s West Bengal poll victory. The All India Trinamool Congress alleged that its local party office and nearby shops were vandalised by BJP supporters. Kolkata Police said four people were arrested after complaints of vandalism. Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien claimed meat shops were also targeted. West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharyya said violence in the party’s name would not be tolerated. Police later banned bulldozers and similar machines from victory processions across the city.

Actor-politician Vijay on Wednesday met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar and staked claim to form the next government after securing support from Congress and smaller parties. Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats in the Assembly election. Congress said its support was linked to keeping “communal forces” out of the alliance. The party’s top leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, discussed the political situation in Tamil Nadu. Preparations are now underway for Vijay’s oath-taking ceremony on May 8. (PC: India Today)

Samik Bhattacharyya, the West Bengal BJP president, on Wednesday visited Nabanna, the state government headquarters in Howrah, to discuss preparations for the new Chief Minister’s swearing-in ceremony. BJP leaders said the event will be held on May 9 at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, a major political rally venue in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend. Bhattacharyya said post-poll violence would not be tolerated and warned against “Trinamoolisation” inside the BJP. He also said action would be taken against BJP leaders found encouraging violence. (PC: Anandabazar.com)

Global oil prices eased on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary pause in “Project Freedom”, the US-led naval operation aimed at securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, to allow space for fresh negotiations with Iran.   Brent crude dropped 1.7% to $108 a barrel, while US crude slipped 1.6% to $100.60 after recent sharp gains driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East.   Trump said “great progress” had been made towards a possible agreement with Iran, though uncertainty remains over the reopening of safe trade routes through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. (PC: BBC)

The organiser of Lionel Messi’s India “GOAT Tour”, Satadru Dutta, has threatened to file a ₹100 crore defamation case against the Trinamool Congress after the party’s defeat in the West Bengal elections. Dutta alleged that the controversy surrounding Messi’s chaotic visit to Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium destroyed three years of work and damaged his reputation. He accused former Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas of mismanaging the event by crowding around the football star for photographs, which allegedly triggered unrest inside the stadium. Dutta, who spent 37 days in jail after the incident, said he was ready to approach the Supreme Court if necessary. (PC: India Today)

The Congress has extended support to actor-politician Vijay and his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam to form the next government in Tamil Nadu, but with a key condition that no “communal forces” be included in the alliance.   The support from Congress adds five MLAs to TVK’s tally, taking its strength to 112, still short of the 118-seat majority mark in the 234-member Assembly. TVK is also holding talks with the VCK, CPI and CPM to secure additional support.   Congress said the alliance was based on “shared responsibility” for a secular and progressive government in Tamil Nadu after TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the election. (PC: NDTV)

Security arrangements outside the residences and offices linked to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee were scaled down in Kolkata two days after the BJP’s sweeping Assembly election victory.   Police removed several additional security measures, including scissor barricades, from Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence and replaced them with manual guardrails. Officials said only the existing Z+ security cover would remain, while extra personnel deployed during the TMC government’s tenure were withdrawn.   The move comes amid a major political transition in Bengal after the BJP won 207 seats, ending the TMC’s 15-year rule in the state. (PC: HT)

Actor-turned-politician Vijay has intensified efforts to form the next government in Tamil Nadu after his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections. Vijay has sought support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), led by Thol Thirumavalavan, along with Congress, CPI and CPM. Congress has already agreed to back TVK, sources said. TVK won 108 seats, falling 10 short of a majority in the 234-member Assembly. Support from VCK and Left parties could help Vijay cross the halfway mark and stake claim to form the government. (PC: X)

Former India cricketer and ex-TMC MLA Manoj Tiwary has quit the Trinamool Congress, alleging he was asked to pay ₹5 crore for an Assembly election ticket from Howrah’s Shibpur seat. “Only those who could pay hefty money were given tickets,” Tiwary claimed, alleging large-scale corruption in candidate selection. He said he refused to pay and later lost the nomination. Tiwary also criticised the Mamata Banerjee government, saying ministers had “very little” authority to work independently. Declaring his “TMC chapter is over,” the former Bengal captain said he will now focus on cricket coaching after applying for Bengal’s Ranji team head coach position. (PC: X)