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A new dawn in Tamil Nadu politics: How Actor Vijay’s expected win could end Stalin’s legacy

A new dawn in Tamil Nadu politics: How Actor Vijay’s expected win could end Stalin’s legacy

by | May 4, 2026 | top-stories


Tamil Nadu election results 2026: Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has shaken Tamil Nadu politics on Monday, May 4, 2026, as vote counting unfolds across Tamil Nadu’s 233 Assembly seats. As of 11:35 am, TVK is leading in 109 seats, while the ADMK is leading in 62 seats and the ruling DMK trails at just 41 – according to live data from the Election Commission of India. If these trends hold, Vijay could become Chief Minister and end the DMK’s grip on Tamil Nadu in a single wave.

Unexpected numbers

The majority mark in Tamil Nadu’s 233-seat Assembly is 118. TVK is currently leading in 109 seats, putting it within striking distance of a majority as counting continues through the day. This is a party that did not exist five years ago. Vijay formally launched TVK in February 2024 and is fighting his first-ever election this year – making today’s numbers nothing short of extraordinary for a political debutant.


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Meanwhile, the DMK, led by sitting Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, is leading in just 41 seats — a sharp fall from its comfortable 2021 majority of 133 seats. The Congress, DMK’s alliance partner, is leading in only 5 seats — a number that makes their combined tally look deeply troubled.

Also Read: Vijay’s TVK leads Tamil Nadu election results: Could the actor-turned-politician’s party ditch regional rivals to form govt with AIADMK?

What this means for M.K. Stalin’s legacy

M.K. Stalin came to power in 2021 riding a wave of welfare politics and Dravidian ideology. If today’s trends convert into wins, his government will be replaced by actor Vijay’s party. For ordinary Tamil families, this means a new government controlling school fee structures, rice subsidies, bus passes, and state employment schemes. Vijay’s campaign focused heavily on youth unemployment and corruption — two issues that clearly found traction at the ballot box.

A star who bet everything on one election

Vijay stepped away from a blockbuster film career to enter politics full-time. He campaigned across all 233 constituencies — a physical and strategic commitment that distinguished TVK from parties fielding leaders who rarely visited smaller districts. The ADMK’s 62-seat lead suggests the anti-DMK vote split between TVK and ADMK, but TVK clearly captured the larger share.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu Election Result 2026 Live Updates: Vijay’s TVK crosses majority mark in trends; emerges single largest party

Results are still coming in. The full picture will emerge by the evening — but as of now, Tamil Nadu is on the edge of a political shift that few predicted even six months ago.



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UP water tank tragedy: One dead, two hurt filming reel; IAF airlifts stranded children | Video

UP water tank tragedy: One dead, two hurt filming reel; IAF airlifts stranded children | Video

by | May 3, 2026 | top-stories


One child died, and two others were injured after a group of five children climbed atop a water tank to record a reel, and the stairs collapsed, officials said on Sunday. District Magistrate of Siddharthnagar Shivsharanappa told ANI that while three children fell from the structure, two remained stranded and were later rescued in a joint operation involving the fire department and the Indian Air Force, which airlifted them using a helicopter due to difficult terrain and poor road access.

 


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“An incident occurred when five children climbed atop a water tank to record a reel, and when the stairs broke, three of them fell from the water tank. One child died, and two others are being treated at the medical college,” the District Magistrate said.

He further explained the rescue efforts for the two children stranded on the tank. “For the rescue operation of the two children who were still atop the tank, we first called a fire engine from Gorakhpur. Because the soil was very muddy and the road wasn’t properly built, we consulted with the Air Force officer in Gorakhpur as part of Plan B. They dispatched a helicopter around 5 AM this morning, and the two children were safely rescued and sent to their parents’ home. We thank the Chief Minister’s office, whose coordination provided the Air Force and ensured the successful, quick operation,” Shivsharanappa added.

Children who had been stranded for a day at a water tank were rescued by an Air Force helicopter following the coordinated operation, officials added.

Earlier today, DM Shivsharanappa informed that the rescue operation was carried out in close coordination with the Air Force and the state administration, with continuous communication maintained throughout the planning phase.

According to the IAF’s Central Air Command (CAC), the operation was launched following a request from state government authorities after the children got stuck on top of the structure due to damage to the access ladder.

In a post on X, CAC, IAF wrote, “On a request from state government authorities, an IAF Mi-17 V5 of Central Air Command (CAC) was deployed to rescue two stranded children, who were stuck on top of a water tank in Sidharth Nagar in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. The children were stranded in the night as the ladder of the water tank was damaged. The rescue mission, yet again, displays the IAF’s professionalism and commitment to save lives with a swift response in times of need.”

 

 

Officials confirmed that two other children who were safely rescued are being treated at the medical college. Further details are awaited.





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West Bengal Assembly election: EC orders re-poll at all 285 booths in Falta constituency

West Bengal Assembly election: EC orders re-poll at all 285 booths in Falta constituency

by | May 2, 2026 | top-stories


The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday said that fresh polls will be conducted in all 285 polling stations in the 144-Falta Assembly Constituency, citing severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process during polling at a large number of polling stations on April 29, 2026.  ECI said that the election will be held on May 21, between 7 am and 6 pm, while counting of votes will take place on May 24.

 


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This development comes as repolling for 15 polling booths under two Assembly constituencies in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal was held on Saturday. Repolling was conducted across 11 polling booths in Magrahat Paschim Assembly and 4 booths in the Diamond Harbour Assembly. Repolling was ordered after reports and allegations surfaced regarding irregularities and booth capturing during the second phase of the election on April 29.

Also Read | Confident of winning 200+ seats, exit polls an attempt to manipulate stock market: Mamata Banerjee

BJP’s allegations

BJP’s West Bengal co-incharge, Amit Malviya, had alleged that miscreants were taping the BJP candidate button, thereby preventing voters from choosing the party candidate at several polling booths in Falta under the Diamond Harbour constituency during phase two of the Assembly elections in the State. Malviya termed it as ‘Diamond Harbour Model,’ and alleged that the model helped Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee secure his Lok Sabha seat.

In a post on X, Malviya wrote, “This is what Mamata Banerjee was defending when she spoke up for Jehangir Khan, a criminal contesting on a TMC ticket from Falta in Diamond Harbour. In several polling booths, the option to vote for the BJP has been blocked using a tape, effectively preventing voters from exercising their choice. This is the so-called ‘Diamond Harbour Model,’ the same template that helped Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee secure his Lok Sabha seat.”

 

West Bengal elections 2026

West Bengal Assembly elections were held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Repolling is being conducted in select booths after the Election Commission ordered fresh voting following reports of irregularities and allegations of booth capturing. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Most exit polls have projected the BJP as the frontrunner in the state. Chanakya Strategies projected the BJP winning 150–160 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, giving it a majority on its own, while the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) was projected to win 30–40 seats and others six to 10 seats.

Exit Poll Projections









Agency BJP Seats TMC Seats Congress Left Others
Matrize 146–161 125–140 – – 6–10
JVC 138–159 131–152 0–2 0–1 0–1
P-Marq 150–175 118–138 – – 2–6
People Pulse 95–100 177–187 1–3 0–1 –
Poll Diary 142–147 99–127 3–5 2–3 0–1

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has dismissed the exit polls, saying they are an attempt to manipulate the stock market and that similar tactics have been used earlier as well. She also expressed confidence that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will emerge victorious in the ongoing Assembly elections, winning over 200 seats.

(With ANI inputs)

Also Read | Falta residents protest ahead of West Bengal Election results; allege TMC intimidation, CRPF, RAF deployed





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VIDEO: Final moments of mother clutching son before Jabalpur cruise capsized

VIDEO: Final moments of mother clutching son before Jabalpur cruise capsized

by | May 2, 2026 | top-stories


A viral video captures a mother holding her four-year-old son in a final embrace just moments before a cruise boat capsized in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur, an incident that claimed nine lives. The footage from inside the vessel shows the woman, wearing a life jacket, clutching her child as passengers hurriedly distributed life jackets while water began to enter the boat.

Also Read | She held him till the end: First image of mother who died embracing her 4-year-old in Jabalpur cruise tragedy

The mother and her son are seen on the left side of the footage in the final moments before the cruise overturned in the Bargi Dam reservoir on Thursday evening. Hours later, rescue teams recovered their bodies from the water, still entwined in the same life jacket, which was the most haunting image of tragedy.


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The recovery of the bodies sparked an outpouring of grief, with family members breaking down as they were brought ashore. Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Rakesh Singh, who visited the site, was visibly shaken by the scene and struggled to hold back his tears.

The rescue personnel who pulled the body out said that when they were pulling out the mother’s body, it was not coming out easily. Upon inspecting, they found her hands holding onto the child, stuck to her chest. The woman, identified as Marina Massey, had come from Delhi with her family to visit Jabalpur. By Friday morning, rescuers recovered the bodies of Marina and her son, Trishan. Witnesses say she had wrapped him securely in her life jacket, holding him close till the very end, a final act of love that has left people across the country deeply moved.

The river cruise, carrying around 30 passengers, capsized after being caught in a sudden storm. Officials said strong winds swept across the reservoir around 6 pm, churning the waters and destabilising the vessel.

Also Read | Death toll rises to nine in MP’s Jabalpur cruise ship capsize tragedy

Eyewitnesses alleged that passengers repeatedly urged the crew to return to shore as weather conditions deteriorated, but the boat continued drifting deeper into the reservoir before eventually overturning.

So far, 22 people have been rescued, while search operations continue for those still missing. Teams from the SDRF, local police, and district administration are engaged in round-the-clock rescue efforts.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the state government is extending all possible assistance to the affected families and continuing efforts to trace the missing.

 





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She held him till the end: First image of mother who died embracing her 4-year-old in Jabalpur cruise tragedy

She held him till the end: First image of mother who died embracing her 4-year-old in Jabalpur cruise tragedy

by | May 1, 2026 | top-stories


The Jabalpur cruise disaster has left families shattered and hearts heavy. Near Bargi Dam on Thursday, a devastating accident unfolded, the true scale of which is reflected in haunting rescue visuals. Among them, one image has gripped everyone—a mother found clutching her four-year-old child tightly within her life jacket. Neither survived. Even in her final moments, she refused to let go. The scene was such that everyone present at the spot including the Madhya Pradesh Minister Rakesh Singh moved to tears as their throat choked. 

The rescue personnel who pulled the body out said that when they were pulling out the mother’s body, it was not coming out easily. Upon inspecting, they found her hands holding onto the child, stuck to her chest. The woman, identified as Marina Massey, had come from Delhi with her family to visit Jabalpur. By Friday morning, rescuers recovered the bodies of Marina and her son, Trishan. Witnesses say she had wrapped him securely in her life jacket, holding him close till the very end—a final act of love that has left people across the country deeply moved.


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Also Read: Death toll rises to nine in MP’s Jabalpur cruise ship capsize tragedy

On Thursday evening, they were aboard the cruise when a sudden storm and powerful winds caused it to sink. Some members of the family survived, including her daughter Siya, her father Pradeep Massey, and her husband. But the loss of Marina and young Trishan has torn the family apart.

So far, 28 people have been rescued, while 9 have lost their lives. Four others are still reported missing. The tragedy has left behind not just loss, but an image of a mother’s love that words can scarcely capture.

Meanwhile, rescue and search operations have been intensified on the ground with the Indian Army joining civil authorities and disaster response teams in a coordinated effort to trace the missing passengers. The Indian Army said its Madhya Bharat Area immediately launched Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations after receiving a request from the district administration.

One Junior Commissioned Officer and 13 soldiers, including trained divers from the Shatrujeet Brigade, were airlifted to Jabalpur and deployed at the accident site.

Also Read: Death toll rises to nine in MP’s Jabalpur cruise ship capsize tragedy

In its official statement, the Army on Friday said, “Search and rescue operations are being carried out in close coordination with civil administration, NDRF and SDRF teams. Despite extremely difficult underwater conditions, our personnel are working round the clock to trace the missing passengers and assist in recovery operations.”

Officials said the submerged cruise vessel remains stuck at a depth of nearly 20 feet in the Bargi Dam reservoir, making underwater visibility and recovery operations extremely challenging. Medical assistance has also been provided to rescued passengers at the Military Hospital in Jabalpur.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed grief over the tragic cruise boat accident at Bargi Dam in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district, where the death toll has reached nine and at least four passengers remain missing. 

In a post by PMO India on X, PM Modi described the loss of lives as “extremely painful” and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He also wished a speedy recovery for those injured.

“The loss of lives due to the capsizing of a boat in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, is extremely painful. I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this tragic mishap. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The local administration is assisting those affected,” the PM said on X.

He also announced financial assistance for the victims. “An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will be given Rs 50,000,” he added. (With agency inputs)



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Calcutta HC rejects Trinamool plea against ECI directive on central staff for Bengal polls counting duty

Calcutta HC rejects Trinamool plea against ECI directive on central staff for Bengal polls counting duty

by | Apr 30, 2026 | top-stories


KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday dismissed a writ petition filed by the Trinamool Congress challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) directive to appoint Central government and Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) employees as counting supervisors and assistants for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. A single-judge bench of Justice Krishna Rao, which had reserved its order earlier in the day after hearing arguments from both sides, pronounced the verdict in the evening, rejecting the petition in its entirety.

“It is the prerogative of the Election Commission of India to appoint counting supervisors and counting assistants either from the state government or the Central government. This Court does not find any illegality in appointing counting supervisors and counting assistants from Central government/Central PSU employees instead of state government employees,” the court observed.

The High Court further noted that the impugned communication issued by the Additional Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, was aimed at ensuring “transparency, integrity and orderly conduct of counting proceedings” and formed part of the ongoing electoral process.


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The bench observed that Clause 15.7.9 of the Handbook for Returning Officers permits counting supervisors and assistants to be appointed from either Central or state government officials or comparable undertakings. The court ruled that the ECI’s decision to prefer Central government/Central PSU employees was well within its authority.

Addressing the Trinamool Congress’ primary contention that Central government employees, being under the administrative control of the BJP-led Union government, could favour the principal opposition party in the state, the court held that such apprehension was not sustainable.

It pointed out that micro-observers, who are invariably drawn from Central government/Central PSU employees, would also be present at every counting table, along with counting agents of candidates and other officials, thereby ensuring adequate checks and balances.

The court further observed that if any irregularity or favouritism occurs during the counting process, the Trinamool Congress retains the right to challenge it through an election petition after the declaration of results.

Citing Section 100 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the judgment stated: “If the petitioner proves that the Central Government/Central PSU employees appointed as counting supervisors and counting assistants helped the opponent by manipulating votes during counting, the petitioner has the liberty to raise all such grounds in an election petition.”

The writ petition had challenged a communication issued by the Additional Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, which required that “at least one among the counting supervisor and counting assistant at each counting table shall be a Central Government/Central PSU employee.”

Senior Advocate Kalyan Bandopadhyay, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the impugned directive lacked jurisdiction and deviated from the Election Commission’s own handbook, which does not mandate Central government personnel for such roles.

It was further contended that while micro-observers are required to be Central government/PSU employees, extending this requirement to counting supervisors and assistants was arbitrary and specific to West Bengal.



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