West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday announced that land required for fencing the India-Bangladesh border would be handed over to the Border Security Force within 45 days. Speaking after his first Cabinet meeting at Nabanna, Adhikari said the process would begin immediately and described the move as a key step to stop illegal infiltration. The BJP government also approved implementation of central schemes, including Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana 3.0, in the state. Adhikari further announced implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and support for families of BJP workers killed in political violence. (PC: India Today)

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress leaders to file fresh pleas related to alleged voter deletions during Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee told the court that in 31 Assembly seats, the BJP’s victory margins were less than the number of votes deleted during the revision exercise. The court said separate petitions could be filed on the issue. The matter is linked to allegations over voter deletions ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, which resulted in a major BJP victory in the state. (PC: The Indian Express)

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday said the BJP government would continue welfare schemes introduced by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, including the flagship Lakshmir Bhandar programme for women. Addressing reporters after his first cabinet meeting, Adhikari said all ongoing beneficiary schemes in the state would remain unchanged. The BJP government also approved steps to hand over land to the BSF for border fencing along Bangladesh and announced implementation of Ayushman Bharat and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in Bengal. The BJP formed its first government in the state after winning 207 Assembly seats in the recent election. (PC: NDTV)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday met his predecessor and DMK president M. K. Stalin, a day after taking oath as chief minister following TVK’s landmark Assembly election victory. The meeting, described as a courtesy call, marked Vijay’s first interaction with Stalin after the fiercely contested polls. Stalin and his son, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, welcomed Vijay warmly at the residence. Udhayanidhi greeted the new chief minister with a hug and handshake, while Stalin later embraced him. The leaders also exchanged silk shawls and bouquets during the meeting, signalling a cordial political gesture despite recent electoral rivalry.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday attacked the Opposition over what he called “appeasement politics” during the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav celebrations in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district. Referring to the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple after Independence, Modi said, “Politics continues to be played even over matters concerning national self-respect. Somnath itself stands as the prime example of this.” He praised Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Rajendra Prasad for rebuilding the temple despite opposition during Jawaharlal Nehru’s tenure. Drawing a parallel with Ayodhya’s Ram Temple, Modi said, “We have seen how even the construction of the Ram Temple faced opposition.” He also released a commemorative stamp and coin marking 75 years of the temple’s reconstruction. (PC: HT)

Opposition parties criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he urged citizens to adopt austerity measures amid the escalating Middle East crisis and rising oil prices. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called the appeal “proof of failure”, while leaders from Congress, Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the Centre of poor economic planning. Modi had asked people to reduce fuel use, avoid unnecessary foreign travel, postpone gold purchases and revive work-from-home practices to help ease pressure on India’s economy. Meanwhile, an Informal Group of Ministers meeting will review the crisis impact on fuel supplies, inflation and shipping routes. (PC: NDTV)

Three suspects, including alleged criminal Vishal Srivastava, were detained from Bihar’s Buxar district in connection with the murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Officials said the West Bengal STF carried out raids in Buxar and took the suspects to Bengal for questioning. Vishal reportedly faces over 22 criminal cases, including murder and robbery. Police tracked the accused through a UPI payment made at a toll booth near Kolkata. Rath was shot dead at point-blank range near his Madhyamgram home on May 6, while his driver suffered critical injuries in the attack. (PC: HT)

Retired IAS officer Suvendu Adhikari has appointed former Election Commission special observer Subrata Gupta as his adviser, shortly after taking oath as West Bengal’s first BJP Chief Minister. Gupta, a 1990-batch IAS officer, earlier served as the EC’s Special Roll Observer during the Special Intensive Revision process ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The appointment came just days after he was relieved from election duties. The new Bengal government also appointed IAS officer Shantanu Bala as the Chief Minister’s private secretary. The BJP recently secured a historic victory in West Bengal, winning over 200 seats and ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule in the state.

Fresh speculation over C. Joseph Vijay joining the INDIA bloc emerged after his warm public interaction with Rahul Gandhi during the Tamil Nadu swearing-in ceremony. Vijay repeatedly stressed “secular” and “social justice” themes in his first speech as Chief Minister, echoing Congress messaging. Reports said Congress backed TVK after breaking ties with the DMK, deepening cracks within the INDIA alliance. While no formal alliance announcement has been made, Congress leaders have openly praised Vijay’s rise and described TVK as ideologically aligned with secular politics. The developments have triggered debate over a possible national opposition realignment ahead of future elections. (PC: PTI)

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin strongly rejected Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s claim that the previous DMK government left the state financially burdened with ₹10 lakh crore debt. Responding to Vijay’s first speech after taking office, Stalin said Tamil Nadu’s debt remains “well within permissible limits” and insisted that the state treasury is not empty. He urged the new government not to “deceive people” and reminded Vijay that welfare schemes were successfully implemented despite challenges like Covid-19 and floods. Vijay, meanwhile, promised transparent governance and announced a white paper on the state’s finances for 2021–2026. (PC: The Times of India)