Donald Trump warned that Iran would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if it attacks US vessels escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid a fragile ceasefire. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned the US and UAE against entering a “quagmire,” stressing that no military solution exists for the crisis. He criticised Trump’s “Project Freedom” maritime escort plan as ineffective. Tensions escalated as both sides reportedly exchanged fire, with the UAE also citing attacks. Trump claimed Iranian forces targeted ships, prompting US retaliation against small boats, while Washington continues military buildup, keeping the truce on the brink. (PC: X)

Suvendu Adhikari, after securing a significant victory in Bhabanipur, declared that the defeat of Mamata Banerjee would mark the end of her political career. He termed the win “very important” and said defeating Banerjee was crucial. Adhikari claimed she lost by over 15,000 votes. He further alleged that Muslim voters supported Banerjee openly in certain wards, while voters from Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities backed him, leading to his victory. Framing the outcome as a decisive political shift, Adhikari asserted that the result signals Banerjee’s “retirement from politics,” highlighting the broader implications of the Bhabanipur contest in West Bengal’s evolving political landscape.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor acknowledged the electoral performance of the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal and Assam, stating that leaders Narendra Modi and Amit Shah had “done a good job.” He attributed the success to the party’s strong organisational structure, professional campaign management, and effective use of resources, including finances. Tharoor noted that there are lessons other parties can draw from this approach. However, he also emphasised that political messaging should focus on unity rather than division. His remarks stand out as a rare instance of cross-party acknowledgment during a highly polarised and competitive election environment.

Incidents of violence erupted across West Bengal following the declaration of Assembly election results, with multiple offices of the All India Trinamool Congress vandalised. According to police reports, attacks were recorded in areas including Tollygunge, Baruipur, Kamarhati, Baranagar, Baharampur, Howrah and Kasba. In the Bijoygarh, Netajjnagar locality, the election office of TMC leader Aroop Biswas was ransacked, with visuals showing damaged property and scattered hoardings. The unrest reportedly coincided with celebrations by rival groups after the results. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely to prevent further escalation as concerns rise over post-poll violence, a recurring issue in the state’s politically charged environment during transitions of power.

May 4, 2026 marked a major political shift across India as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured its first-ever government in West Bengal, ending Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year rule. The BJP crossed the majority mark decisively, with Suvendu Adhikari defeating Banerjee in Bhabanipur.   Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a mandate for “change and governance”, urging a shift away from political violence.   In Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Vijay led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to a stunning debut, emerging as the single-largest party and defeating established players including M. K. Stalin.   Kerala saw a comeback by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), which ousted Pinarayi Vijayan’s Left government after a decade.   In Assam, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) retained power with a strong majority, while also holding Puducherry. (PC: X, India Today)

The 2026 Assembly elections saw several “giant killer” results across states, with new or lesser-known leaders defeating senior politicians.   In Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin lost Kolathur to TVK’s VS Babu by nearly 9,000 votes. In Assam, BJP’s Hitendra Nath Goswami defeated Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi in Jorhat.   Kerala also saw key upsets, including IUML’s Parakkal Abdulla winning in Kuttiadi. In West Bengal, BJP made gains in areas like Kalimpong.   These results show a shift where strong leaders faced tough local challenges. Many seats once seen as safe changed hands in close contests. (PC: X)

Narendra Modi thanked the Election Commission of India and poll workers after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strong results in West Bengal and Assam. Addressing party workers in Delhi, he said democratic institutions had “won” and praised record voter turnout across states. “Today, I would like to say a big thank you to the Election Commission, its staff, and security workers,” he said. He added that their work helped maintain the dignity of India’s democracy. The BJP crossed the majority mark in Bengal and secured wins in Assam and Puducherry. Modi also thanked voters in all five states that went to polls. (PC: HT)

Rahul Gandhi has supported Mamata Banerjee’s claim that more than 100 seats were “stolen” in West Bengal after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strong win.   In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said Assam and Bengal show signs of elections being “stolen” with support from the Election Commission. He said similar patterns were seen earlier in states like Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Maharashtra. The BJP is leading in over 190 seats in Bengal, marking a major shift in the state’s politics. Mamata Banerjee, however, is ahead in Bhabanipur as counting nears completion. (PC: X)

M. K. Stalin conceded defeat in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and accepted the public mandate. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader said his party would now work as a responsible Opposition. “We bow to and accept the verdict of the people. Congratulations to the victors!” Stalin said in a post. He also defended his government’s record over the past five years. “In the past five years, we created many projects and provided good governance,” he said. The results mark a major shift, with Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerging as the largest party. (PC: India Today)

Mamata Banerjee of the All India Trinamool Congress lost the Bhabanipur seat to Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party by a margin of over 15,000 votes in the West Bengal Assembly elections.   Bhabanipur has been a stronghold of Banerjee and the TMC. Early trends showed a close contest. Adhikari later widened the gap during counting.   The result is a major setback for Banerjee, who had returned to the Assembly from this seat in a bypoll earlier. It also underlines the BJP’s strong performance across West Bengal in this election.