뉴스

Long wait finally ends for loyalist with BJP choosing Lingaraj Patil for Council polls

Going by the numbers, Lingaraj Patil is likely to get elected to the Legislative Council without any hassles

Why the number 19 matters in Kakoli Ghosh's TMC rebellion, and why Raghav Chadha comes to mind

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar insists “nearly 20 TMC MPs, including me, have decided to support the NDA”. Mamata Banerjee's loyalists say that figure is a stretch.

From Mamata loyalist to rebel camp leader: Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar's journey

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar is now spearheading a breakaway group that claims the support of a large section of TMC MPs in the Lok Sabha.

Trump urges new spy chief to fire employees

Bill Pulte, a Mr. Trump loyalist who heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, was named by the Republican president on June 2 as acting Director of National Intelligence

Abhishek Banerjee retains his spot in TMC rejig, flanked by Mamata loyalists

TMC parliamentary leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien and RS member Dola Sen have been appointed national joint secretaries to assist Abhishek Banerjee

Watch: TMC crisis: loyalists back Mamata, rebels stand firm | Above the Fold | 04.06.2026

From the deepening rift within the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal to the U.S. House vote on the Iran war and the latest developments in the deadly Delhi fire tragedy, here are the top stories of the day on Above the Fold.

Siddaramaiah, Kharge loyalists fielded in MLC elections

Loyalists rally behind Mamata, say an ousted leader cannot lead Trinamool in Assembly

Earlier in the day, the Trinamool had dissolved all its party committees, including district and block units; party leaders say ‘Mamata is the original Trinamool Congress’

Stunned, betrayed: TMC foot soldiers struggle with 31-day bad news cycle

Disbelief and anger grip Trinamool workers after a major electoral defeat, leading to internal turmoil and the dissolution of party committees. Loyalists express frustration over perceived organizational drift and the sidelining of old guards, while some blame external consultants and the induction of rival party leaders. Despite the shock, many remain committed to Mamata Banerjee, hoping for a party revival.

Mix of Siddaramaiah loyalists, new faces: 13 MLAs take oath in DK Shivakumar's Cabinet

Mix of Siddaramaiah loyalists, new faces: 13 MLAs take oath in DK Shivakumar's Cabinet

TMC's Firhad Hakim resigns as Kolkata mayor

Kolkata Mayor and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Firhad Hakim has resigned from his post after receiving permission from party supremo Mamata Banerjee, senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said on Wednesday, amid deepening turmoil within the opposition party following its electoral defeat in West Bengal.The announcement came as the TMC grappled with its most serious internal crisis since losing power, with a large section of its legislators openly rebelling against the party leadership and seeking a reorganisation of the legislature wing.Also read: TMC crisis deepens as Mamata loyalists attend BJP-led review meetingThe political churn was visible on Wednesday when Hakim, along with TMC MLAs Nayana Bandyopadhyay, Ashok Deb and Kunal Ghosh, attended an administrative review meeting convened by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna, a development that added a fresh dimension to the ongoing unrest within the party, PTI reported.The attendance of several leaders considered close to Banerjee at the government meeting came even as the party's legislative wing appeared headed for an unprecedented split.Rebels stake claim to legislature leadershipHours earlier, 58 dissident TMC MLAs formally extended support to expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee as the new leader of the legislature party and conveyed their decision to Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose, according to PTI.Ritabrata Banerjee, accompanied by fellow rebel MLA Sandipan Saha and other dissident legislators, met the Speaker and submitted letters of support purportedly signed by 58 MLAs.The rebel faction also proposed a new leadership structure, naming Ritabrata Banerjee as legislature party leader, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha and Shiuli Saha as deputy leaders, and Raghunathganj MLA Akhruzzaman as the chief whip.Ritabrata Banerjee, Khan and Saha were also present at the chief minister's administrative review meeting later in the day.The developments followed a gathering of dissident legislators at the Assembly earlier on Wednesday. Significantly, none of the MLAs who attended the rebels' meeting had participated in Mamata Banerjee's dharna in central Kolkata on Tuesday, highlighting the growing divide between the party leadership and the dissident bloc.Also read: TMC rebels back expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as legislature party leader in BengalPolitical signals from administrative meetingsSeveral leaders identified with the Kalighat leadership, including Hakim, Bandyopadhyay, Deb and Ghosh, skipped the Assembly meeting and instead attended the Nabanna review meeting.The latest development comes days after senior TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and six party MLAs attended an administrative review meeting chaired by Adhikari in Kalyani, triggering speculation over shifting political equations within the opposition camp after the assembly election setback.Political observers told PTI that with another set of TMC leaders attending Wednesday's meeting, the line between administrative engagement and political messaging was becoming increasingly blurred in West Bengal's evolving post-election landscape.The BJP government has maintained that such meetings are inclusive administrative exercises. During the previous TMC regime, BJP leaders had often alleged that opposition legislators were excluded from official review meetings.Soon after assuming office, Adhikari announced that opposition MPs and MLAs would be invited to government programmes and district-level administrative review meetings.Also read: TMC dissolves West Bengal units, launches overhaul after poll drubbingParty debates participationReacting to the participation of TMC legislators in such meetings last week, Kunal Ghosh had said the matter was being discussed within the party."We are not in favour of boycotting administrative meetings called by the state government. But when our party workers are being assaulted and rendered homeless in post-poll violence, we need to think twice before attending such meetings. Our party is also discussing whether we should continue participating in these meetings or not," he had said.The ongoing turmoil comes against the backdrop of the TMC's crushing assembly election defeat and growing uncertainty over the party's future leadership structure.

Siddaramaiah’s imprint on first batch of ministers sworn in with D.K. Shivakumar

Senior legislators and loyalists of former Chief Minister find place in 14-member Cabinet headed by D.K. Shivakumar

Rebel In TMC: Trinamool Splits In Two — Javed Khan, Shiuli Saha & The Full Rebel MLA List

Barely a month after election results, nearly 60 TMC MLAs — including former Mamata loyalists — have broken ranks, demanding Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition.

Trump picks loyalist Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) named Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard, who recently announced that she would resign from the role at the end of June.

DK Shivakumar's likely Cabinet takes shape; Siddaramaiah loyalists among ministers

DK Shivakumar's likely Cabinet takes shape; Siddaramaiah loyalists among ministers

Sidda meets Cong high command in Delhi a day after resignation - what’s on his 'wishlist'

Outgoing Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah met with Congress leaders in Delhi, fulfilling his promise to resign and paving the way for a transition. He reportedly sought cabinet berths for his son and loyalists, while the party prepares for a state unit reorganization where he is expected to play a key role.

Four Deputy CMs, Siddaramaiah Loyalists: Inside Congress's Karnataka Cabinet Shake-Up Plan

The Congress has to balance regional representation, caste equations, generational transition, and factional accommodation in the new Karnataka Cabinet to be led by Shivakumar.

DK Shivakumar Loyalists Celebrate In Ramanagara Amid Karnataka Leadership Change Buzz

Party workers and supporters gathered in large numbers in Ramanagara, considered Shivakumar’s political stronghold in Bengaluru South district.

Ahead of crucial Congress meeting, Karnataka CM has breakfast with loyalists in Delhi

The Congress high command has convened a meeting with Mr. Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar at the party headquarters in New Delhi

Congress factions in Kerala ‘wishcasting’ for their respective loyalists as KPCC president’s post comes up for grabs

A Congress insider says AICC seems resolved to prevent current jockeying for KPCC chief’s post from backsliding into a self-destructive circular firing squad at a crucial time when ‘Team-UDF’ seeks to cast LDF, still smarting from its historic defeat, as the alliance in disarray