VD Satheesan took oath as the new Chief Minister of Kerala as the Congress-led UDF returned to power after a decade, ending the CPI(M)-led Left government in the state. The grand swearing-in ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram witnessed the presence of top Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge. Thousands of UDF workers gathered to celebrate the alliance’s massive comeback.

Mamata Banerjee has refused to resign following the BJP’s decisive electoral victory, alleging that the verdict was shaped by a “conspiracy.” Despite the Bharatiya Janata Party securing 206 seats and ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress, Banerjee maintained that her party had achieved a “moral victory.” She asserted that she would have stepped down if the defeat was genuine, but claimed the outcome was influenced by forceful interference. Banerjee also launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India, accusing it of bias and alleging that the electoral process was manipulated in favor of the BJP. The TMC has claimed that the mandate was “looted” in nearly 100 constituencies, citing irregularities and delays during counting. WATCH