Bengal

• Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League 2026 Final, posting 161/5 in 18 overs against GT's 155/8. • Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in the victory, scoring 75 runs off 42 balls and achieving his fastest IPL fifty of his 19-season career. • The win secures the championship for RCB, marking a historic milestone for the franchise and Kohli.

• Astha Chaturvedi, a 38-year-old startup founder, relocated her family, child, and pet from San Francisco to Bengaluru in 2024. • The decision to move back to India was made spontaneously during a trip to hire a Chief Technology Officer for her company. • Chaturvedi describes India as feeling "more vibrant" than the US, suggesting that leaving the American Green Card queue was the correct choice.

• The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Election Commission of India (ECI) did not exceed its statutory powers while conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. • The court rejected arguments that the SIR was "ultra vires," stating that the process is legal even if it differs from the ordinary revision procedure. • This ruling validates the ECI's authority to implement specialized voter list updates across several states, including Bihar and West Bengal.

• Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 34th match of the 2026 Indian Premier League, scoring 206/5 in 18.5 overs. • GT posted a competitive total of 205/3, featuring contributions from Krunal Pandya (23 off 12) and Tim David (10 off 9). • RCB's victory was driven by strong batting performances from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, complemented by disciplined death bowling.

• Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans are facing off in Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League 2026. • The match is being broadcast and tracked via Cricbuzz, providing live scores, ball-by-ball commentary, and video highlights for viewers in the USA and Canada. • This high-stakes playoff game is critical as it determines which team secures a direct path toward the tournament final.

• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a historic win in West Bengal after decades of efforts, secured a third victory in Assam, and made gains in Kerala during 2026 state assembly elections. • With allies, BJP retained Puducherry union territory. • In Tamil Nadu, actor Vijay's TVK party disrupted the long-standing DMK-AIADMK duopoly.

• Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was assassinated in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, hit by three of four bullets while in a moving car. • The killing occurred two days after BJP's historic assembly election win over TMC on May 6, 2026, heightening post-poll tensions. • TMC condemned the murder on Thursday, demanding a CBI probe, while Chandra's mother broke down publicly, calling for life imprisonment for the killers.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP won the West Bengal assembly elections, capturing the state for the first time and defeating Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC). • The victory expands BJP control to 78% of India's population across states, following major wins in state-level polls this week. • Mamata Banerjee rejected the results as rigged during a Tuesday press briefing, refusing to resign despite her term ending on May 8, 2026, and accusing the Modi government of disenfranchising millions of voters.

Turmoil and violence rocks state since prime minister Narendra Modi’s party claimed victory in legislative electionTensions have been high in the Indian state of West Bengal after a top political aide from Narendra Modi’s party was shot dead in the street and hundreds were arrested as violence broke out following elections this week.The prime minister’s Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) claimed victory in the West Bengal elections on Monday, defeating Trinamool Congress (TMC), which had ruled over the state legislature for 15 years. Continue reading...

• Substitutes inspired East Bengal to a vital victory against Mumbai City FC on May 6, propelling them to the top of the Indian Super League table. • The match showcased East Bengal's resilience, overturning the scoreline through key contributions from bench players in a high-stakes encounter. • This result strengthens East Bengal's playoff positioning amid a competitive ISL season.

Mamata Banerjee says Narendra Modi’s party ‘forcefully captured’ election that ended her party’s 15 years in powerA political showdown is taking place in the Indian state of West Bengal as the chief minister, Mamata Banerjee – India’s most powerful female politician – has dramatically refused to resign after she lost elections to the prime minister’s party this week.On Monday, Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) won an overwhelming victory in the state elections in West Bengal, where Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress party (TMC) have been in power for 15 years. Continue reading...

• The BJP achieved a commanding majority in West Bengal state elections, marking its first-ever victory in India's fourth-most populous state and ending decades of opposition rule under Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. • Election results finalized this week show the BJP winning control of West Bengal while expanding majorities in Assam and making incremental gains in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, consolidating power across 21 of India's 28 states. • The victories represent a significant political rebound for Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his party's loss of outright parliamentary majority in 2024 national elections.

• The Bharatiya Janata Party secured a landslide victory in West Bengal's 2026 assembly elections, leading in 200 of 293 seats, marking the party's first-ever government formation in the state and ending the All India Trinamool Congress's 15-year reign. • BJP's success represents a dramatic rise from zero seats in 2011 to a dominant position in 2026, with over 235,000 Central Armed Police personnel deployed to ensure intimidation-free voting across the state. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the victory as historic, stating it will be remembered forever and signaling the BJP's continued electoral momentum ahead of remaining state elections.

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a landmark 206 out of 294 seats in West Bengal's legislative assembly, marking its first-ever electoral victory in the opposition-held state of over 100 million people. • The BJP's conquest of West Bengal, long a bastion of its political adversary, represents a significant expansion of Hindu nationalist electoral dominance across India's regional politics. • Results announced Monday were part of elections held across five states and territories in April and May, with the BJP also securing a third consecutive victory in northeastern Assam and participation in the ruling coalition in coastal Puducherry.

A key Indian state, the result is set to have significant implications for the country’s political landscapeIndian prime minister Narendra Modi’s party has won a resounding election victory in West Bengal, a state which had been a rare opposition stronghold, expanding his unrivalled consolidation of power across the country.It is the first time that Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have won assembly elections in West Bengal, a large and politically significant state in eastern India. Continue reading...

• Bengaluru FC takes on Odisha FC in the Indian Super League at 7:30pm IST on May 4, 2026, as part of key fixtures in the ongoing season. • Real Kashmir faces Namdhari in the Indian Football League at 6:30pm, while the Indian Indoor Open athletics event continues at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. • This matchup holds significance for playoff positioning in ISL, with Bengaluru seeking vital points against a competitive Odisha side.

• Early trends from West Bengal assembly elections show BJP ahead of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), signaling a potential historic shift in the state's political landscape. • The early leads suggest competitive dynamics across constituencies, though final results remain uncertain as vote counting progresses and trends can shift significantly. • The election results could have implications for Indian politics at the national level and investor sentiment regarding governance and policy continuity in West Bengal's economy.

• Bhabanipur constituency in West Bengal is the epicenter of the 2026 assembly election, pitting TMC chief Mamata Banerjee against BJP's Suvendu Adhikari after her prior Nandigram loss. • The diverse voter base includes significant Hindi-speaking traders and lower minority concentration compared to TMC strongholds, adding complexity to the high-stakes fight. • Stringent security measures implemented statewide to ensure transparent counting amid political tensions and voter list disputes.

• Trinamool Congress challenged Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) removing 89 lakh voters—11.6% of electorate—slightly above TMC's 2021 winning margin. • Bengal's 294-seat election pits Mamata Banerjee's TMC against BJP, testing saffron expansion in a BJP-resistant state. • High-voltage campaign and disputes heighten stakes as counting ensures make-or-break outcomes for regional power dynamics.

• Vote counting starts at 8 AM on May 4, 2026, across Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and West Bengal following high-stakes assembly elections in April. • Key contests include DMK's MK Stalin defending power in Tamil Nadu, BJP eyeing a hat-trick in Assam under Himanta Biswa Sarma against Congress's Gaurav Gogoi, and Trinamool Congress vs BJP in West Bengal's 294 seats. • Results are make-or-break for national players like BJP, Congress, DMK, TMC, and Left, with implications for delimitation debates and Dravidian politics dominance.

• Coach Bruzon announced his departure from East Bengal at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season on May 2, 2026. • The move comes amid team transitions in Indian football leagues. • His exit impacts club strategy heading into offseason preparations.

• The Election Commission declared the April 29 polling void in 15 stations in Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour constituencies in South 24 Parganas due to violence and disturbances. • Repolling is scheduled for May 2 from 7 am to 6 pm under strict monitoring to ensure a fair electoral process. • The decision addresses reports of disruptions that compromised the integrity of the vote in these areas.

• The New York Giants traded defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL Draft, less than two weeks after Lawrence requested a trade. • The deal gives the Giants two first-round picks, opening numerous draft options ahead of this week's selections. • This blockbuster move shakes up draft projections and bolsters Cincinnati's defensive line with Lawrence's elite talent.