Three-way CM tussle in Kerala fuels meme storm

Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association office-bearers point out that LPG prices have nearly doubled in six months, to cross ₹3,100 this month. A scene in Kochi on Wednesday (May 6, 2026) | VIBHU Hotels, restaurants, bakeries and canteens downed their shutters across Kerala in a 24-hour Statewide strike on Wednesday (May 6, 2026), leaving many, especially daily commuters, scrambling for meals.The shutdown, led by the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA), was in protest against a steep hike in 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder prices. The increase of ₹993 has pushed costs beyond ₹3,000 per cylinder, with hotel owners claiming the surge has made daily operations unsustainable. A hotel in Thiruvananthapuram city remains shut on Wednesday in protest against the hike in commercial LPG prices. | In Thiruvananthapuram, people from various walks of life were severely impacted by the strike. At places, including East Fort and Statue junction, which are usually packed with office-goers and street-side vendors, eateries remained closed throughout the day.For many, the day began with confusion and hunger. “I hoped to have some breakfast. But, everywhere I went, the restaurants were closed. I did not even get a cup of tea,” says Lakshmi, a vegetable vendor from Vellayani.Thampanoor, a key transit hub in the State capital, witnessed similar scenes, with travellers who arrived early in the morning finding themselves stranded without food. Satheesh, a city resident who works in Kollam, says he usually has breakfast before embarking on his train journey to his workplace. “Only after reaching here did I realise everything was shut. I was not aware of the strike. I might have to make do with biscuits from stalls at the railway station,” he laments.Nevertheless, a few roadside eateries that offered tea and light snacks, some restaurants near hospitals such the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital, and canteens attached to government offices provided respite to many.Dharna stagedAs part of the protest, demonstrators took out a march from the Martyrs’ Column in Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, and also staged a dharna.KHRA office-bearers pointed out that LPG prices have nearly doubled in six months, to cross ₹3,100 this month.The price of a commercial LPG cylinder stood at ₹1,684 in December 2025, and increased steadily over subsequent months to reach ₹1,845 in February, ₹1,912 in March and ₹2,112 in April.The rising costs, combined with increasing expenses for labour and raw materials, have brought the food sector to a standstill, according to the hotel owners.Major trade bodies, including Kerala Vypari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samthi and All Kerala Caterers Association, supported the Statewide stir. Published - May 06, 2026 03:45 pm IST

Home News India The BJP is set to form its first government in West Bengal with a landslide victory Updated - May 05, 2026 07:52 am IST BJP supporters apply 'gulal' amid celebrations during vote tabulation on the day of West Bengal Assembly election results, in Kolkata, on May 4, 2026. | Three incumbent Chief Ministers -- Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), M.K. Stalin (Tamil Nadu) and Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala) -- are on their way out, with Ms. Banerjee also losing the poll battle against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari in the Bhabanipur Assembly seat in Kolkata. The latest electoral cycle also saw a spectacular debut in Tamil Nadu by actor-politician Vijay’s TVK with 108 wins out of 234 seats to emerge as the single-largest party, along with a wipeout of the Left as it tasted defeat in its last bastion of a Kerala, and a solitary win there for the Congress, which has been battling diminishing electoral returns. (With inputs from PTI)Catch live updates here:May 05, 2026 07:51 In Kerala, no leader is inevitableThe victory of the Congress-led United Democratic Front is matched in intensity and depth by the defeat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front in Kerala. The winners have an immediate lesson to draw from the loser: that Kerala is characteristically disapproving of an über-leader who outshines his own party and keeps the spotlight firmly on himself. The outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had made this election all about himself. The tagline of the LDF campaign was “Who Else, but LDF,” with Mr. Vijayan as its sole face, looming in imposingly large hoardings across the State. The UDF campaign, by contrast, was a teamwork of unprecedented synergy among its leaders — a fact that all of them underscored after the victory. The UDF and its supporters must now resist the temptation to imitate the Pinarayi model of leadership.Varghese K. George writes:What the winner must learn from the loser in Kerala: No leader is inevitableThe LDF’s campaign, like its government, was strikingly at odds with Left tradition and revolved around Pinarayi’s personality; the UDF must now resist the temptation to imitate this modelMay 05, 2026 07:50 In Tamil Nadu, a commander leads the charge On May 4, 2026, a tsunami of sorts swept across the State of Tamil Nadu and one man crested the wave – C. Joseph Vijay. An actor, once known as ‘ IllayaThalapathy’, or young commander, amongst his fans, he transitioned a decade ago to the title Thalapathy(commander), a moniker prescient enough, for he did lead his people through one of the most historic debut political appearances in the history of elections in India. In 2026, he was the hero of a full-length feature film starring the Dravidian duopoly and vanquished them.C. Joseph Vijay, once known as ‘ IllayaThalapathy’ or young commander among his fans, transitioned a decade ago to Thalapathy(commander), a moniker prescient enough, for he has led his people through one of the most historic debut political appearances in the history of elections in IndiaClick below to read more:‘Thalapathy’ Vijay: A commander leads the chargeC. Joseph Vijay, the iconic Thalapathy, leads a historic political debut, challenging Tamil Nadu's political landscape. Published - May 05, 2026 07:46 am IST

Changing tide: A UDF victory rally in Kannur, Kerala, on Monday. Kannur was considered a stronghold of the LDF in the State. | K. Mohan With its defeat in the Kerala Assembly election, the Left parties are not in power in any State for the first time since 1977. The setback has sharpened questions over the political strategy of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]. During its campaign, the Congress had accused the ruling party of colluding with the BJP, with the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, branding the CPI(M) as the “Communist Janata Party”.CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby rejected the charge, calling it a “deliberate” and “distorted” narrative aimed at tarnishing the party’s image. “CPI(M) stands by all sections of people, we have always supported the socially excluded both in terms of religion and caste,” he said. Published - May 05, 2026 02:49 am IST

Senior Congress leaders K. C. Venugopal, Shashi Tharoor, Ramesh Chennithala, Kodikunnil Suresh, V.D. Satheesan and others celebrate the UDF's victory in the Assembly elections at Indira Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. | All three major contenders for the post of Chief Minister — Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee Ramesh Chennithala, and AICC general secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal — attributed the massive win to cohesive teamwork within the alliance, often described as Team UDF, the guarantees and assurances given to the people, methodical electioneering, and the ‘misgovernance and nepotism’ of the outgoing Left Democratic Front government. Published - May 04, 2026 10:53 pm IST

Uma Thomas bettered her own record to win by a margin of 50,211 votes | VIBHU It was a whitewash for the UDF in the four central Kerala districts, thus adding to the impressive show of the front across the State. The LDF drew a blank in Ernakulam (14 Assembly seats), Kottayam (nine seats) and Idukki districts (five seats). However, Thrissur district provided it with the much-needed solace where it outperformed its rivals and prevented a UDF clean sweep in the region. The LDF won nine of the 13 seats in the district leaving just four to the UDF.Though Ernakulam is historically considered a UDF bastion, the LDF had snatched five seats away from the UDF in 2021. However, the Congress and its allies won all the seats and ensured the defeat of P. Rajeeve, a CPI (M) strongman and the Industries Minister in the outgoing Ministry, in the process. Published - May 04, 2026 11:19 pm IST

BJP’s V. Muraleedharan celebrates after winning in the Kazhakuttam Assembly constituency | If not for the defeat by close margins in some seats, it would have had more to show than the eleven seats it secured from the region.In the Thiruvananthapuram district, the LDF which won 13 of the 14 constituencies in 2021, managed to retain five of the seats despite the massive wave against the LDF government. The UDF secured seven seats from the district, with the crowning glory being the victory in the traditional left stronghold Vamanapuram, where Muhammed Sudeersha S. defeated two-time MLA D.K.Murali by a margin of 12,185 votes. At Chirayinkeezhu, former MP Ramya Haridas overcame stiff opposition from within her party to wrest the seat from the CPI. Communist Marxist Party (CMP) leader C.P.John secured victory in Thiruvananthapuram constituency against Sudhir Karamana of the LDF. Published - May 04, 2026 09:53 pm IST

CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan. | V. Govindan has said that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) will undertake a comprehensive review of its electoral setback in Kerala and move forward with corrective measures.Acknowledging that the setback and its scale were not anticipated, Mr. Govindan told mediapersons in Thiruvananthapuram that all aspects of the verdict would be examined in depth. “This was not the result we expected,” he said. Published - May 04, 2026 06:50 pm IST

G. Sudhakaran | “Former senior CPI(M) leader G. Sudhakaran, who did not renew his party membership alleging that he had been sidelined by the district leadership, was leading in Ambalapuzha after contesting against sitting MLA H. Salam,” Election Commission data showed. According to initial counting trends, Mr. Sudhakaran was ahead by more than 6,000 votes. Published - May 04, 2026 01:42 pm IST