From allies to uneasy partners: BJP-Sena friction marks Mahayutis first 100 days in BMC

Once they were schoolgirls. Then, they became the face of a fight they would rather not have fought. Four long years and several promises later, the Karnataka government’s withdrawal of the order that in 2022 effectively barred wearing of hijab in pre-university colleges (Classes 11 and 12) is a victory that holds little meaning for them.However, they hope, it will mean more — that other girls who want to wear the hijab won’t have to make the choice between it and an education.Aliya Assadi, one of the six students of Government Pre-University College in Udupi who stood her ground over “the right to wear hijab”, says the government’s reversal of the February 22 order is an “acknowledgement” of this, even if “delayed”. “Hijab requires neither politics, nor permission nor public approval. But I am happy that those who come after me will be free to wear hijab in classrooms.” The hijab row had erupted in late 2021-early 2022 after the six protested over not being allowed to attend classes wearing the head scarf. The protests spread to other districts, and as right-wing Hindu bodies launched a counter-agitation, there was communal tension at several places. In February 2022, the then BJP government in the state passed an order asking students to stick to prescribed uniforms in pre-university and degree colleges. Since hijab is not a part of the uniform, it effectively ruled the head scarf out. On Wednesday, the Karnataka government withdrew that order, allowing students to wear limited religious- or faith-based symbols along with the prescribed uniform. The fact that private pre-university colleges allowed the hijab as part of their uniform meant that in the one year after the Karnataka government’s 2022 order, Udupi district saw a significant shift of Muslim students from government to private colleges, admissions data accessed by The Indian Express showed. For Aliya, A H Almas, Resham Farooq, all of Udupi, and Muskan Khan of Mandya, too, life was not the same after February 2022. A H AlmasStory continues below this ad She was among the six students who protested against the Udupi government pre-university college restricting them from wearing hijab. In Class 12 at the time, she didn’t return to class after the 2022 government order, skipping the annual exams and losing a year. “Finally I wrote an all-India open school examination to pass my Class 12 because no school would let me write the exam in hijab,” Almas says. Now she is in the third year of a B.Sc degree, travelling 65 km to Dakshina Kannada district to college, and wants to become a physiotherapist. Almas says because of her involvement in the hijab fight, getting admission in Udupi was difficult. “Every day that I go to college now, I thank God for giving me a chance to get an education. Several of my friends dropped out of school. Most of them did a diploma and ended their education. Some got married.” One overlooked aspect, the 22-year-old adds, is that the hijab restriction also affected Muslim teachers. “It’s not just friends that I lost to the hijab ban. I lost teachers too,” Almas says.Story continues below this ad Looking back, she says: “I was too young, I am too young, to fight these battles.” And yes, she is still apprehensive; she doesn’t want to give the name of the college where she is enrolled. Resham Farooq Among the students of the Udupi Government Pre-University College who protested against the institute’s hijab order, Resham was at the time in Class 12. While she was also among the petitioners in the Supreme Court against the government order, Resham never pursued studies after the face-off. Her mother says: “Resham began working at a clothing shop, where she was employed for nearly two years.” Soon after, she got engaged, and a month ago, got married. While the parents refuse to share Resham’s number, they hope that other girls don’t have to discontinue their education under similar circumstances. Aliya AssadiStory continues below this ad Aliya, who w

An illuminated Legislative Assembly building in Kolkata on Tuesday. (Express photo by Partha Paul)With a change of guard in the state, key government buildings, including the Legislative Assembly and the Writers’ Building have been illuminated with saffron lights. Under the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, the Assembly building was lit up in green or blue and white. After the BJP registered a landslide victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections, the focus has also shifted back to the 240-year-old Writers’ Building, which used to be the administrative headquarters under the 34-year Left Front regime, before the Mamata government shifted the state secretariat to Nabanna in Howrah in 2011.Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP had announced plans to make the Writers’ Building as the administrative headquarters. However, till the renovation work is underway, the chief minister is likely to work either from Nabanna or the Assembly premises. The change in lighting has also triggered speculation over whether the colour of the government buildings will be changed. However, according to BJP sources, neither the party or the government is in a hurry to change the colour. After Mamata Banerjee assumed the office of chief minister, government buildings had undergone a visible transformation with schools, colleges, and civic bodies offices repainted in blue and white. A senior official of state administration said, “Till now, no decision has been taken on this issue. However, in some places, enthusiastic BJP supporters have changed the colour of some municipality offices, but we have instructed that such actions will not be encouraged. The government is yet to decide on the new colour of the government buildings.” Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd Tags: West Bengal

Updated: May 6, 2026 10:52 AM IST MK Stalin's DMK has slammed the Congress for extending support to TVK.The MK Stalin-led DMK has slammed its INDIA bloc ally Congress, calling it “backstabbers”. DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said that his party did not endorse the support of Congress to Vijay’s TVK to form the government in Tamil Nadu. The Congress made the decision to back TVK at a late-night Parliamentary Affairs Committee meeting, as per a report by news agency PTI.Posting a photo of Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Vijay, Annadurai further said: “Some smartie from Congress has screwed up big time.” Pointing out that the Congress had only 5 seats, Annadurai said the party had made a “complete fool of themselves”. “It will not get over the majority mark. Now, ADMK with 43 seats is willing to offer support to TVK. Whose support will TVK take,” he asked.

Tentagraph News ### TVK to form Government in TN CHENNAI, India — Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is moving toward possible alliance discussions to form a coalition government after emerging as the single-largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, leading in more than 110 seats in the 234-member House, May 4, 2026. The development comes as the party hovers just below the 118-seat majority mark required to form a government on its own. Early counting trends indicate that TVK, led by Joseph Vijay, has disrupted the long-standing dominance of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu politics. With leads fluctuating close to the majority threshold, the party is now assessing post-poll strategies to ensure stable governance. Party insiders suggest that informal outreach to potential allies could begin if the final tally falls short of a clear majority. “The mandate is strong, but governance requires numbers,” a senior TVK leader said, indicating openness to coalition discussions if necessary. Political analysts say the situation reflects a significant shift in voter sentiment, with TVK capitalizing on anti-incumbency and appealing to younger demographics. However, they caution that forming a coalition may require balancing ideological differences and negotiating power-sharing arrangements. Meanwhile, both DMK and AIADMK are closely monitoring developments, with neither party ruling out post-poll alignments. The evolving dynamics have introduced an element of uncertainty in a state traditionally dominated by two major Dravidian parties. As counting continues, the focus remains on whether TVK can secure the remaining seats needed for a simple majority or will move decisively toward forming a coalition government.