Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has appealed to the public to give newly elected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at least six months before judging his administration’s performance. During a recent meeting with Vijay, Kamal Haasan congratulated him and submitted six demands aimed at supporting the struggling Tamil film industry, including anti-piracy measures and a state-backed OTT platform. He emphasized that Vijay should now be viewed beyond his film-star image and respected as a political leader handling major responsibilities. Vijay recently took oath after his party, TVK, secured a historic electoral victory in Tamil Nadu. (PC: HT)

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is close to finalising Kerala’s new cabinet ahead of Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan taking oath on Monday. Sources said the Congress is likely to get 12 cabinet berths, including the chief minister’s post, while ally Indian Union Muslim League may receive five seats. Chandy Oommen, son of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, is also expected to be inducted. Other UDF allies, including RSP, Kerala Congress (Joseph), Kerala Congress (Jacob) and CMP, are likely to get one berth each. Senior Congress leaders are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram.

Mamata Banerjee appeared in lawyer’s robes at the Calcutta High Court to argue a petition alleging post-poll violence against All India Trinamool Congress workers and minorities in BJP-ruled Bengal. Addressing a bench led by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, she accused the administration of failing to prevent attacks, illegal demolitions and forced displacement. The court directed police to ensure safe return of citizens allegedly driven from homes and businesses. While leaving the court premises, Mamata was heckled with “chor” slogans by lawyers reportedly linked to the BJP and later alleged physical assault. Samik Bhattacharya denied party involvement in the incident. (PC: X)

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay has urged Narendra Modi to remove the 11% import duty on cotton, warning that rising cotton and yarn prices are pushing Tamil Nadu’s textile industry into crisis. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Vijay said the state, India’s largest textile and apparel exporter, faces severe raw material shortages due to reduced cotton production and increased trading activity. Cotton prices have reportedly jumped 25% in two months, from Rs 54,700 to Rs 67,700 per candy, while yarn prices rose from Rs 301 to Rs 330 per kg. Vijay warned the situation threatens lakhs of jobs, particularly among rural and semi-urban women workers. (PC: X)

Congress leader V. D. Satheesan praised senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala and K. C. Venugopal after being chosen as Kerala’s Chief Minister-designate following the UDF’s massive Assembly election victory. Satheesan described the win as a “historic mandate” and stressed that rebuilding Kerala would require collective leadership and teamwork. He assured party workers that both leaders would be taken “into complete confidence” in the new government. The Congress high command selected Satheesan after days of internal discussions over the CM post. The UDF secured a landslide win with 102 seats, ending a decade of LDF rule in Kerala.

Mamata Banerjee on Thursday arrived at the Calcutta High Court wearing a lawyer’s gown, likely to appear in connection with a post-poll violence case filed by the Trinamool Congress. She was accompanied by TMC MP and advocate Kalyan Banerjee, his son Shirshanya Bandopadhyay and lawyer Baiswanor Chatterjee. Visuals of Banerjee in legal attire outside the court quickly drew attention amid heightened political tensions in West Bengal following the Assembly election results. Sources said the matter relates to alleged incidents of post-poll violence involving Trinamool Congress supporters.

V. D. Satheesan was on Thursday elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party, clearing the way for him to become Kerala’s next Chief Minister after the Congress-led UDF’s sweeping election victory. The decision followed days of lobbying and high-level discussions in New Delhi involving Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Satheesan’s appointment ends uncertainty within the party after the UDF won 102 of Kerala’s 140 Assembly seats. Supporters celebrated outside his Aluva residence as the Congress now moves towards government formation and cabinet discussions with alliance partners. (PC: X)

After nine days of intense discussions and internal consultations, the Congress leadership has reportedly finalised its choice for Kerala’s next Chief Minister following the UDF’s decisive Assembly election victory. Senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge held crucial meetings in Delhi before confirming that the official announcement will be made on Thursday. The delay triggered speculation, protests and poster campaigns in Kerala, especially around frontrunner K. C. Venugopal. Other contenders included V. D. Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala. Congress leaders said all consultations are complete and the party now aims to quickly form the new government in Kerala. (PC: The Hindu)

The AIADMK leadership removed senior leaders C.V. Shanmugam, S.P. Velumani and C. Vijayabaskar from key party posts after internal divisions deepened over support to Chief Minister Vijay during the Tamil Nadu Assembly trust vote. The action was taken by party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami amid a growing rebellion within the party. A breakaway AIADMK faction had backed Vijay’s TVK government during the floor test, helping it secure a comfortable majority in the Assembly. The move has intensified the political crisis inside AIADMK, with reports suggesting sharp disagreements over leadership, alliances and the party’s future direction in Tamil Nadu politics. (PC: India Today)

The Congress on Wednesday accused the Rajasthan BJP government of delaying the investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak because a leader linked to the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) was allegedly involved. According to the Congress, the Jaipur Dehat BJYM leader and his brother bought the leaked NEET question paper from Gurgaon for lakhs of rupees and sold it to students in Sikar for profit. Rajasthan Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully questioned why the state government allegedly waited nine days to register an FIR. The allegations come amid widening investigations into the NEET-UG leak across multiple states. (PC: The Indian Express)