P.V. Anvar, former MLA and Kerala State convener of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), has said that a State committee meeting of the party held in Kochi on Monday (April 20, 2026) passed a resolution to sever all ties with the party’s national leadership and reposition itself as “a secular, democratic, and socialist political outfit aligned with the politics of the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF).”

Addressing a press conference after the State committee meeting at Kalamassery, Mr. Anvar categorically stated that “all links with the TMC stand severed with immediate effect” and that a new party will be formed by May 15.

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In Tamil Nadu politics, the term ulkutthu (or ulladivelai) carries a meaning far more loaded than routine intra-party dissent. It refers to the covert act of working against one’s own party members — often to secure personal advancement, a ticket, or electoral success. At times, such actions compel the party high command to intervene or initiate disciplinary measures against those involved.

Nammalu, a short story by Sahitya Akademi Award-winning writer Imayam, effectively captures sabotage within a party. It is driven by the authority of an unquestioned district secretary — a former minister and a caste Hindu — who acts against his own party’s candidate. The district secretary, R.K.S., does not want his colleague to win, as the latter’s victory would likely earn him a cabinet berth, complete with the symbolic authority of a siren-fitted car, and create a parallel power centre in the district. R.K.S. knows he is irreplaceable because of his standing in the community and his power as district secretary. Still, he cannot bring himself to bear the prospect of someone else — more importantly, a member of a Scheduled Caste — emerging as a minister.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief coordinator and former Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan on Sunday (April 19, 2026) challenged AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami to a public debate, claiming that he had recommended to then general secretary Jayalalithaa that “a party post stripped from Mr. Palaniswami in 2001 be restored.”

Addressing a campaign meeting at Nambiyur in the Gobichettipalayam Assembly constituency, Mr. Sengottaiyan said he had begun his political journey under M.G. Ramachandran, and it later continued under Jayalalithaa. He described the past eight years as a period of “sorrow and grief.”

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Senior Congress Leader P. Chidambaram has exuded confidence that the DMK-led alliance will secure a huge mandate in the forthcoming Assembly elections, alleging that Tamil Nadu will not accept the BJP.

Speaking exclusively with ANI, Mr. Chidambaram claimed that AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have “no credibility” and stated that Tamil Nadu will never accept a BJP government.

“The door is firmly closed to the BJP. The people of Tamil Nadu will never accept the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have no credibility among the Tamil people, and therefore Palaniswami also has no credibility,” he added.

- ANI

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday (April 20, 2026) alleged that the AIADMK leadership has “surrendered” to the BJP due to “corruption”.

Addressing an election rally in Kanniyakumari, he claimed that now the AIADMK has become a vehicle for BJP’s entry into Tamil Nadu.

“The RSS, which hates Dravadian ideology, also plans to rule Tamil Nadu,” he alleged.

Underscoring federal principles, Mr. Gandhi said every State should have its own voice and representation.

“People of each state should run their state. But the BJP does not think like this. it believes is one tradition, one language and one history,” the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said.

Mr. Gandhi said Tamil Nadu should be governed by its people.

- PTI

To create awareness about voting, the Election Commission arranged a boat race holding placards at Boathouse, Udhagamandalam on Monday (April 20, 2026).

Photo: Sathyamoorthy M /THE HINDU.

The Supreme Court on Monday (April 20, 2026) said it would call for a report from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court today itself after it was alleged that the appellate tribunals constituted for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal were “not functioning”.

Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat mentioned the matter before a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi.

“This is the West Bengal SIR matter.Your lordships have listed the matter for April 24. The appellate tribunals are not functioning. Lawyers are not being allowed. They are only taking internet and computer-based applications,” Kamat said.

The CJI expressed displeasure that almost everyday, the matters related to SIR in West Bengal were being mentioned before it.

- PTI

BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Monday (April 20, 2026) exuded confidence in the BJP’s victory in the West Bengal polls, stating that the people want “liberation from corruption, nepotism, and infiltration.”

Speaking with ANI, Anurag Thakur said, “In Bengal, the voice of the people is one-sided that the BJP is coming on May 4, TMC is going. The people of Bengal want liberation from corruption, nepotism, infiltration, and the atrocities being committed on women, youth, and common citizens, and this time they want Mamata Banerjee’s farewell”.

- ANI

BJP leader K. Annamalai launched his poll campaign in Mylapore constituency here on Monday (April 20, 2026) in support of the party candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan for the April 23 Assembly elections.

Addressing an election rally, the former State BJP chief charged the DMK government with “failing” to deliver on key promises especially regarding Chennai’s infrastructure, storm water drainage and waste management.

“The DMK had promised to construct two lakh houses for the state fishermen of which 200 would come up in Mylapore,” he said adding still the project has not materialised.

- PTI

Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee urged Ratna Debnath, the BJP candidate from Panihati and mother of the RG Kar rape-murder victim, to appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the Aparajita Bill, which is awaiting the President’s nod, sees the light of day.

Addressing a gathering after a roadshow in favour of party candidate Tirthankar Ghosh at Panihati in North 24 Parganas on Sunday (April 19, 2026), the TMC national general secretary said the proposed legislation seeks to ensure time-bound punishment for rape convicts within 50 days.

The Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill was passed in the assembly in September 2024.

Targeting the BJP, Mr. Banerjee said that a party “which garlands convicts... cannot deliver justice,” and accused it of double standards on women’s safety.

- PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held her first community outreach programme in her Bhabanipur constituency since filing her nomination on April 8, using the platform to sharpen her attack on the BJP over deletion of names from electoral rolls and alleged attempts to divide people on religious and caste lines.

At the meeting, organised at Ladies’ Park in her constituency on Sunday (April 19, 2026), Ms. Banerjee described elections as a “festival of democracy and not autocracy” and urged people from different communities to remain united ahead of the Assembly polls.

Bhabanipur has emerged as one of the most keenly watched contests of the 2026 assembly polls, with Banerjee, a three-term MLA from the seat, locked in a direct battle against Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

- PTI

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is set to begin a two-day campaign tour in Tamil Nadu from Monday (April 20, 2026) as part of the NDA’s intensified outreach ahead of the April 23 State assembly elections.

The programme is aimed at energising party cadre, boosting voter engagement and strengthening the NDA coalition’s development-focused narrative across key regions.

“Naidu will undertake a two-day campaign tour in Tamil Nadu on Monday and Tuesday as part of the NDA’s intensified outreach ahead of the state elections,” said a source from the Andhra Pradesh government.

- PTI

Beyond the glitz and spectacle of eye-catching campaign drives mounted by candidates of the TMC and BJP in the high-profile constituency of Kharagpur Sadar, a man of quiet bearing -- almost diffident in temperament -- rides his bicycle through the town’s winding lanes, carrying out his door-to-door voter outreach ahead of the West Bengal State polls.

For five hours each day, he keeps to this schedule, fitting it in between his daily chores, including trips to the local market for household essentials, and the public meetings he addresses.

Meet 60-year-old Madhusudan Roy, the CPI(M) candidate for Kharagpur Sadar: a whole-time party worker who, for the past 25 years, has steadfastly delivered ‘Ganashakti’, the party’s mouthpiece, to its subscribers across the region every morning.

The party’s ‘paperwallah’ also happens to be the organisation’s area committee secretary and is a member of CPI(M)’s Paschim Medinipur district committee.

- PTI

As elections approach, promises of rehabilitation take centre stage in India’s second largest and oldest coal mining region in Raniganj in Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal. But cracks in homes, unstable ground underneath, and failed rehabilitation promises have haunted residents of the area through many elections.

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As election fervour rises across the State, garland makers in Tiruchi are coming up with innovative, customised designs to cater to political parties.

Garlands reflecting party colours and symbols have become a common sight. Vendors are crafting customised pieces for major parties such as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Vendors are going beyond flowers, incorporating materials such as fruits, yarn, coins, currency notes, peacock feathers, cardamom, vetiver, nuts, and chocolates into their creations. These garlands typically range from 4 feet to 12 feet in length.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the historic Sri Subramanya Swami Temple in Tiruchendur, Tamil Nadu, to offer prayers and seek blessings. The visit to the coastal shrine forms part of the Union Minister’s schedule in the southern State.

Mr. Singh, in a post on X, shared, “Prayed at the sacred Sri Subramanya Swami temple in Tiruchendur [Tamil Nadu]. Feeling blessed to experience the divine energy of this Temple.”

The BJP senior leader and minister had on April 19 held a roadshow in support of the BJP candidate Ananthan Ayyasamy from the Vasudevanallur Assembly Constituency.

- ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s televised address to the nation was an act of desperation, an attempt at “damage control” having suffered the defeat in Parliament [during voting on the Constitution Amendment Bill linked to delimitation] where they enjoyed a majority, DMK leader and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said in Hosur on Sunday.

“It was a political speech replete with insinuations against the Opposition under the cover of the national flag. The speech belonged at an election campaign, and was a government address. It was also in violation of the Election Code,” Mr. Stalin said. It is the “weaponisation of the Delimitation Bill under the guise of women’s reservation” during elections, which had badly boomeranged for Mr. Modi, and is coming back to bite the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), he remarked.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (April 19, 2026) savoured jhalmuri, a popular Bengali puffed rice snack, during a break from back-to-back public meetings in West Bengal.

Mr. Modi shared photographs and videos of the unlikely event, where he is seen asking the shopkeeper to prepare jhalmuri. The vendor initially declines when the PM offers to pay, before accepting the money upon the latter’s insistence.

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