Bengal, Tamil Nadu Govt Formation LIVE: Governor Dissolves Bengal Assembly; DMK Passes Resolutions Authorising Stalin To Take Decisions For Stable Govt

With Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refusing to resign and the tenure of the Assembly expiring today, Governor RN Ravi has formally dissolved the House. In the evening, Lok Bhavan made public a one-line notification stating, "In exercise of the power conferred on me by sub-clause (b) of Clause (2) of Article 174 of the Constitution of India, I hereby dissolve the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal with effect from May 7, 2026." Lok Bhavan has posted the notification on its X handle.

DMK Legislature Party in a meeting on Thursday passed a resolution granting powers to outgoing CM MK Stalin to take decisions in line with party's objective of ensuring a stable government formation in Tamil Nadu. The resolution thanks people of Tamil Nadu and alliance partners. It expresses gratitude to party president MK Stalin and authorises him to take political decisions for a stable government.

The resolution states that Tamil Nadu is not prepared for another election and emphasises the need for a stable government in the state. It also stresses that forces opposed to the principles of the Dravidian movement should not be allowed to gain space. It has strongly condemned the decision of the Congress to move away from the secular progressive alliance, asserting that the party had failed to change its "old political character".

As per norm, the Governor invites the single largest party to form the government. TVK has 108 winning candidates while DMK and AIADMK have 59 and 47 candidates respectively. As per his party leaders' opinion, Vijay submitted a letter to Governor Rajendra Arlekar on May 6 with names of 112 candidates, including five Congress MLAs. Since the claim was for a coalition government and not of a single largest party, the Governor sought proof of support from 118 MLAs of the coalition.

People paid their floral tributes to the mortal remains Chandranath Rath, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's PA, who was shot dead in Madhyamgram last night. Chandranath, who earlier served in the Indian Air Force, was a resident of Ishwarpur in Kulup Gram Panchayat area of Chandipur Assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district. Local people along with BJP workers gathered at his native village on Thursday evening and offered their respects.

AIADMK senior leader and MP C Ve Shanmugam is leaving for New Delhi, where he will resign his Rajya Sabha membership. He is expected to submit his resignation on Thursday night. He has won the Assembly Election to Mailam constituency in Villapuram district in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK leader had secured 82353 votes against TVK's Vijay Niranjan A by a margin of 30041 votes.

The Youth Congress has strongly condemned the Governor for not respecting the democratic verdict of the people of Tamil Nadu by inviting the TVK to form the government.

"This action, which violates the basic traditions of the Constitution and democratic norms, is against the will of the people. It is essential for a state's Governor to act without political bias. But in the current environment, the Governor's action in a manner that ignores the verdict of the people of Tamil Nadu sets a dangerous precedent for democracy," B Dinesh, senior vice president of Youth Congress said in a statement.

"On behalf of the Tamil Nadu Youth Congress, we strongly condemn this anti-democratic act. We urge that the coalition party be immediately invited to form the government. Otherwise, we warn that a huge democratic protest will be held in front of the Governor's House tomorrow under the leadership of the Tamil Nadu Youth Congress," the letter added.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said she is not defeated so she will neither resign from the CM's post nor that or an agitator. "Mamata Didi is a big leader and her decision is correct. The BJP is preparing for the upcoming elections in Punjab through a bomb blast in Jhala. In Tamil Nadu, Vijay Thalapatila has fallen short of the magic number. The Governor of Tamil Nadu is from the BJP so he has not yet invited TVK to form the government," Raut said.

TVK leader Arunraj meets IUML leader K M Kader Mohideen, seeking support for government formation. IUML contested in two seats and won both. Mohideen has told Arunrjaj that he will speak to DMK patriarch MK Stalin before considering the offer and that he will convey his decision afterwards.

DMK's meeting with VCK, CPI(M), CPI and CPI-M leaders concludes amid Tamil Nadu government formation delay. Earlier VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan called on the Governor to invite TVK chief Vijay to form government and prove his majority on the floor of the house. He accused BJP of interfering in state politics and creating confusion. He said Vijay is seeking support to form government as he has 108 seats and has emerged as the single largest party.

TVK leader CTR Nirmal Kumar called on CPI state secretary M Veerapandian and sought the party's support in forming the government, as the Vijay-led party lacks a simple majority to do so on its own. The TVK joint general secretary visited the CPI office here and sought the Communist Party's support.

TVK had already requested support from the Left parties, VCK and IUML, he said, and exuded confidence that TVK would form the government. Asked if TVK has reached out to the NDA, he replied, "We have not asked and don't intend to."

The BJP has accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of fostering a "mafia culture" and "maha jungle raj" in West Bengal following the murder of Chandranath Rath, executive assistant to senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla stated that post-poll violence has become institutionalised under TMC rule, with BJP leaders and workers increasingly targeted after electoral setbacks for the ruling party. He alleged the killing was a pre-planned conspiracy, pointing to a pattern of orchestrated attacks against opposition figures.

The BJP has called for a thorough investigation, demanded accountability from the state government, and urged the central government to intervene to restore law and order in the state. The incident has further heightened political tensions in West Bengal, with the BJP vowing to continue its fight against what it describes as a climate of fear and political vendetta.

Kanimozhi NVN Somu, in a post on X, wrote that the DMK is more than just a political party; it is a movement deeply rooted in ideology. She wrote, "Minor shifts in political alliances cannot undermine its foundation, and the people of Tamil Nadu will hold the Congress accountable for what they see as double standards in the upcoming elections."

She further wrote, "The Congress' tendency to abandon trusted allies and seek new opportunities is well known, and their current actions only reinforce that reputation. Having risen with the support of the DMK, Congress now challenging its former ally is seen as an act of betrayal, akin to kicking away the ladder after climbing up."

Twenty-eight AIADMK MLAs have reportedly been moved to a private resort in Poorankuppam, Puducherry, fueling speculation about their role in the ongoing drama over government formation in Tamil Nadu. These MLAs, said to support senior leader CV Shanmugam, are at the centre of discussions about a possible alliance with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay, who still needs six more MLAs to secure a majority. Sources reveal that TVK is negotiating with AIADMK leaders, with talks of a power-sharing deal potentially offering Shanmugam the Deputy Chief Minister post. However, party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami reportedly opposes supporting TVK, deepening internal rifts.

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar stated on Thursday that Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) currently lacks the majority support required to form the government in the state Assembly. According to an official release from Lok Bhavan, the Governor invited TVK president C Joseph Vijay to Lok Bhavan, Chennai, on May 7, 2026. During their meeting, the Governor clarified that TVK has not secured the requisite majority in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, which is essential for government formation.

Although TVK has staked a claim to form the government with the support of Congress MLAs, the alliance remains short of the majority mark. The Governor reiterated his commitment to upholding constitutional procedures, adding that any claimant to government formation must demonstrate clear legislative support. Until that threshold is met, the process of government formation in Tamil Nadu remains unresolved.

In a sharp rebuttal to media reports, the AIADMK IT wing on Thursday said certain sections of the media are continuing to spread "false narratives" despite the party already issuing categorical denials through senior leader KP Munuswamy earlier in the day (about splitting of the party and possibilities of any alliance with the TVK).

The party accused some media outlets of using terms such as "threaten" and "split" while reporting on the ongoing political developments in Tamil Nadu, and alleged that such reporting reflects an attempt to deliberately spread misinformation.

Stating that it would not remain a "silent spectator", the party warned that it is considering legal action against what it described as "irresponsible reporting".

"Even after our Deputy General Secretary Thiru. KP Munuswamy clarified the facts, certain media houses continue to spread blatant lies. Despite our categorical denial of all rumours this morning, a reputed media house choosing to use words such as 'threaten' and 'split' only exposes its standards and intent. We will not remain silent spectators while false narratives and bundles of lies are manufactured and circulated at will," AIADMK IT wing said in a post on X.

AIADMK further asked the concerned media house to advise "on what course of action we, as a party, should take against such irresponsible reporting. Will this message suffice, or is a legal notice necessary?"

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which was enforced on March 15 ahead of the Assembly elections, has been lifted in four states and several constituencies following the declaration of results, the Election Commission announced on Thursday. The MCC is no longer in effect in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, as well as in Assembly constituencies in Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Tripura, where bye-elections were held. However, the MCC remains in force in West Bengal's Falta Assembly constituency, where polling is still pending, and a fresh vote has been ordered.

Reacting to Mamata Banerjee's statement that she won't resign as Chief Minister, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal remarked, "Whether Mamata resigns or not is irrelevant, but her fascist mindset has been exposed to the nation. With the Election Commission completing all constitutional formalities, it is now up to the Governor to invite the elected leader of the legislative party to form the government. India follows the Constitution, not individual preferences."

Mamata, in a Press conference, had said, "I have not lost and I will not go to Raj Bhavan...I will not tender my resignation."

Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has dissolved the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly following the results of the recently concluded state elections, according to a gazette notification issued on Thursday. The notification stated that the Assembly stood dissolved with effect from May 6, 2026, under Article 174(2)(b) of the Constitution of India. The move comes after the Congress-led United Democratic Front secured a sweeping victory in the April 9 Kerala Assembly polls, winning 102 of the 140 seats.

The newly elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of Tamil Nadu were formally presented to the Governor, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, in a significant post-election procedure. Tmt. Archana Patnaik, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu, led the delegation, accompanied by the Secretary and senior officials from the Election Commission of India. The official submission of the list took place yesterday.

Tholkappiyan Thirumavalavan on Thursday said his party had received a request from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) seeking support to form the government in Tamil Nadu and that a decision would be taken soon. "We received the request letter from TVK. We have a procedure. Our party’s high-level committee will decide soon," Thirumavalavan said.

TVK, led by Vijay, emerged as the single-largest party, winning 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, but remains short of the majority mark of 118. Thirumavalavan also urged Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to invite Vijay to form the government, calling it a "constitutional right and people's verdict."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathy on Thursday claimed that everything will happen democratically, as the Tamil Nadu governor has yet to invite the TVK party to form the government. The BJP leader said, "I don't think there is any confusion with Raj Bhavan or the Governor. He will go by the constitution. He will go by the rule book…Consequently, the electorate has voted in such a way that no single party has secured an absolute majority", he added.

Narayanan Tirupath stated that under the Constitution, the party with a majority is entitled to form the government, but no party has achieved this in the current scenario. He added that if others support Vijay, it would pave the way for stable governance in Tamil Nadu.

West Bengal Police have formed multiple teams and are examining CCTV footage as part of the investigation into the murder of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s close aide Chandranath Rath in North 24 Parganas district.

Police suspect the murder was pre-planned and are also probing whether professional contract killers were involved in the attack. According to police, around 10.30 pm on Wednesday, a small car allegedly blocked Rath's vehicle near Doharia between Doltala and Madhyamgram Chowmatha. Moments later, motorcycle-borne assailants intercepted the vehicle and opened fire, killing Rath, 42, before fleeing.

Investigators said a small car allegedly blocked Rath's vehicle moments before the shooting. The car has been seized, but police found that its number plate was fake, and that the chassis and engine numbers had also been erased.

Enhanced security and convoy arrangements provided to Vijay after the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election results have been withdrawn following his request, according to party sources. The move came after Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as the single-largest party, winning 108 seats, though it fell short of a majority.

Police had increased security around Vijay's residence and movements across Chennai after the May 4 results, while convoy vehicles usually allotted to the Chief Minister were also temporarily provided. Vijay had been using convoy protection during consultations with party leaders on government formation.

Read more: Tamil Nadu: Vijay Declines CM-Level Convoy Until Swearing-In; TVK Says Security Was Voluntarily Returned

Reacting to TVK Chief Vijay’s meeting with the Tamil Nadu Governor, Congress MP Manickam Tagore said the people of Tamil Nadu have decisively voted for change, choosing a new leader, as TVK has emerged with 108 elected members. "With the Congress party’s support of five MLAs, the total becomes 113, while the majority mark is 118," he noted.

Tagore alleged that the Governor, being a former BJP member, is under pressure from the system and from Delhi. "It is well known that the BJP's mindset and Delhi's mindset are not to make Vijay the Chief Minister. Delhi does not want Vijay to be the Chief Minister," he said.

He further claimed, "We know the Governor is delaying the decision. Although the Governor is a good man, he is under pressure." He criticised the BJP for political manoeuvring despite having only one MLA in Tamil Nadu. "Even with one MLA, they are ready to play politics. This is very unfortunate," he said.

Reacting to Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar not inviting TVK chief Vijay to the oath ceremony, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said: "In this situation, there is no pre-poll alliance in Tamil Nadu with a clear majority, and no party has formally staked a claim to form the government. However, Vijay’s TVK, as the single-largest party, met with the Governor, demonstrating support from 113 MLAs: just four short of the majority mark of 117."

He added that, from a constitutional and legal perspective, the Governor is within his rights to request further proof or letters of support from other members to meet the majority threshold. This is supported by the Supreme Court’s Rameshwar Prasad case, which clarifies the Governor's discretionary powers in such cases.

Annadurai added, "The Constitution grants the Governor this authority, and it appears he is exercising that discretion now. Given the current political environment under BJP rule, interpretations may differ. Nevertheless, our leader M K Stalin has made it clear that DMK will not obstruct Vijay’s possible appointment as Chief Minister, as we are keen to avoid any constitutional crisis."

A day after staking claim to form the government with the support of the Congress party, TVK legislative party leader Vijay on Thursday again arrived at the Lok Bhavan to meet Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, marking his second visit to the Lok Bhavan in a span of 24 hours.

On Wednesday, he submitted the letter of support from Congress party to the Governor and staked claim. However, the Governor is yet to take a decision on the matter, and has asked Vijay to submit letters of support from 118 MLAs, required for government formation.