Three people lost their lives in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Friday as violent clashes erupted during protests against the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. The situation has sparked tension across several parts of the state, including Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly.

According to police reports, 118 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence. The protests, primarily in Muslim-majority areas like Murshidabad and Jangipur, escalated into large-scale confrontations involving arson, stone pelting, and road blockades. Police vehicles were set ablaze, and security forces were targeted with stones.

In response to the unrest, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made it clear that her government does not support the amended law. In a post on X, she stated, “We have made our position clear on this matter — we do not support this law. This law will not be implemented in our state. So what is the riot about?”

Emphasizing the need for calm, Banerjee appealed for peace and cautioned against using religion for political ends. “Remember, we did not make the law that many are agitating against. The law was made by the central government. So the answer you want should be sought from the central government,” she said.

Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar issued a warning to protestors, stating that the state police would not allow any disruption of law and order under the guise of protests.

Meanwhile, state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar criticized the Trinamool-led administration, urging it to enforce law and order in Murshidabad. He alleged that the violence was a result of the government’s appeasement politics and claimed it was possibly a distraction from the recent Supreme Court verdict that invalidated the jobs of 26,000 school teachers.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin on Saturday launched a blistering attack on the newly announced alliance between the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the BJP for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Labeling the tie-up as driven by a “hunger for power” and a betrayal of state interests, Stalin predicted its failure, asserting that Tamil Nadu’s people would reject it decisively.

Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement of the coalition, Stalin accused the AIADMK of hypocrisy in claiming to oppose policies like the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Hindi imposition, the three-language policy, the Waqf (Amendment) Act, and potential reductions in Tamil Nadu’s representation during constituency delimitation.

“Are these issues part of their Common Minimum Programme?” he questioned, noting that Shah remained silent on these concerns during the press conference. Instead, Stalin alleged, Shah used the platform solely to attack the DMK, its government, and himself, while preventing AIADMK leaders from speaking.

“This AIADMK-BJP alliance is doomed to fail,” Stalin said. “Tamil Nadu’s people have repeatedly defeated this coalition in the past, and now Shah has revived the same failed partnership without stating its ideological foundation.” He criticised the vague promise of a Common Minimum Programme, arguing it lacked substance and conviction.

Stalin contrasted the DMK’s legacy with the alliance’s motives. “The DMK is a movement dedicated to protecting state rights, linguistic pride, and Tamil culture. In contrast, the AIADMK-BJP coalition is driven by a thirst for power, standing against these very ideals,” he said.

He accused former AIADMK leader Edappadi Palaniswami of having “mortgaged Tamil Nadu’s dignity to Delhi” during his tenure, bringing ruin to the state in pursuit of power.

Taking a swipe at Shah’s remarks on corruption, Stalin pointed to the AIADMK’s tainted history. “When Shah talks of corruption while allying with AIADMK, the people of Tamil Nadu must be laughing,” he said, recalling that former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa stepped down twice due to corruption charges and was sentenced to four years in prison in a disproportionate assets case.

He also highlighted that AIADMK functionaries and their relatives faced central agency raids, suggesting the alliance was a “compromise” born out of fear to escape scrutiny. “The people know corruption is the very foundation of this AIADMK-BJP tie-up,” Stalin charged, warning that those who “pawned AIADMK out of fear are now ready to mortgage all of Tamil Nadu.”

Stalin further alleged that the BJP has a deliberate agenda to undermine Tamil identity through Hindi imposition, hinder Tamil progress via conspiracies, and erode state rights through delimitation.

He described the AIADMK as an “old bonded slave camp,” coerced by BJP threats to execute these plans. “Whether the BJP comes alone or with allies, Tamil Nadu’s people will deliver a fitting lesson to this traitorous alliance that kneels before Delhi without self-respect,” he vowed.

Addressing Shah’s claim that opposing NEET was a diversion, Stalin noted the minister’s failure to clarify his stance when pressed by journalists. “If Shah believes NEET is right, he should defend it openly instead of deflecting,” he said.

Stalin also rebutted Shah’s accusation of deteriorating law and order in Tamil Nadu, stating, “This is not Manipur—this is Tamil Nadu. Shah failed to restore peace in a state where over 250 lives were lost in 18 months, yet he tries to disturb peace here with baseless claims.” He cited central government statistics to affirm Tamil Nadu’s progress, crediting its robust law and order.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday clarified that K Annamalai is still the Tamil Nadu BJP president, quashing speculation about his removal ahead of the BJP’s renewed alliance with the AIADMK. Addressing the media at a press conference to announce the re-formed tie-up, Shah directly denied claims that Annamalai was ousted as a pre-condition for the alliance.

Asked whether AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami had demanded Annamalai’s removal to proceed with the alliance, Shah responded, “This is not true at all. Mr Annamalai is the state president even today,” while gesturing towards Annamalai, who was seated beside him. Brushing off further speculation, Shah added, “Leave a few things to our party… we will run it well.”

The statement comes amid reports that AIADMK was uncomfortable continuing the alliance with Annamalai at the helm, accusing him of undermining the party’s role and projecting the BJP as the main opposition in Tamil Nadu.

Nainar Nagendran likely to succeed Annamalai

Despite Shah’s assertion, the BJP has received only one nomination for the Tamil Nadu BJP president’s post—from Nainar Nagendran, current vice-president and MLA from Tirunelveli. His nomination was proposed by Annamalai himself, along with three senior leaders, including Union Minister L Murugan and ex-minister Pon Radhakrishnan.

The move paves the way for Nagendran’s unopposed election as state chief.

While Annamalai’s term as state president nears a close, Amit Shah and the BJP have indicated that his future lies within the party’s central leadership. In a post on X, Shah praised Annamalai’s work, calling his contributions “commendable” and “unprecedented”. He stated that the BJP would utilise Annamalai’s organisational skills in the party’s national framework.

Annamalai, a former IPS officer, was appointed the Tamil Nadu BJP chief in 2021. Though the party has yet to make major electoral gains under his leadership, he is widely credited for significantly boosting its visibility in the state.