Congress Returns to Power in Kerala After 10 Years; Thalapathy Vijay’s TVK Emerges as Single Largest Party in Tamil Nadu

In a dramatic reshaping of India’s political map, the Congress-led United Democratic Front has returned to power in Kerala after a decade, while actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu, securing 107 of the 234 seats. Meanwhile, the BJP has consolidated its hold in Assam, and the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) has retained power in Puducherry, leading to a complex political realignment in these four regions.

Kerala: Congress-led UDF Storms to Power

Kerala voters have delivered a resounding mandate for the Congress-led UDF, ending the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) 10-year rule. The UDF has won 102 of the 140 seats, far surpassing the required 71 for a majority. The Congress alone secured 63 seats, with its allies—the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Communist Party of India (CPI), and Kerala Congress factions—adding 39 more. The LDF, led by the CPI(M), has been reduced to 26 seats, marking a significant setback for the Left in the state.

The victory is attributed to a wave of anti-incumbency against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whose government faced criticism over economic mismanagement, high unemployment, and corruption scandals. Despite maintaining strict law-and-order, voters have signaled a desire for change by rejecting the status quo. The UDF’s win is historic, as it is the first time in over five decades that no Left government remains in power in India, with the Left already ousted from Bengal and Tripura in recent years.

Tamil Nadu: TVK’s Superstar Debut

Vijay’s TVK has made a sensational electoral debut in Tamil Nadu, triumphing in the 234-member Assembly elections as the single largest party with 107 seats—just 11 shy of an outright majority. The party’s vote share is approximately 34.86%, significantly outpacing the DMK at 24.19% and the AIADMK at 21.35%. The DMK, now in second place with 59 seats, faces the loss of its leader and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the Kolathur stronghold, defeated by TVK’s V.S. Babu by 8,795 votes in a major upset.

The victory is fueled by widespread discontent with the DMK and AIADMK’s dynastic politics, rising unemployment, and agricultural distress. TVK, launched by Vijay in 2022 to address corruption and inequality, has attracted urban youth and marginal farmers. The party’s narrative of “change” resonates amid the 10% unemployment rate and 15% inflation in the state. Stalin’s consolation prize election from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni—by a narrow margin—highlights the party’s humility, but TVK now leads in government formation talks, likely requiring Congress support.

Assam: BJP Considers Saataval

In Assam, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has cemented its dominance, winning 82 of the 126 seats—surpassing the 64 majority mark—on a 38.35% vote share. The Congress has slipped to 19 seats with 29.34%, while allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) secure 10 each, and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) takes 2. This victory extends the BJP’s rule to a third term, driven by infrastructure development, job creation, and welfare schemes.

Puducherry: NDA Retains with AINRC Edge

The NDA retained power in Puducherry, with AINRC leading the 30-member Assembly with 12 seats, followed by AIADMK and BJP at 6 and 4 respectively. The DMK and Congress each hold 5 and 1, with TVK winning 2 and independents securing 3. This balance reflects the region’s diversity and coalition dynamics.

Public Impact and Future Outlook

The results signal a national shift toward regional discontent with entrenched parties, favoring fresh faces like Vijay’s TVK and Congress’s resurgence in Kerala. The UDF’s win in Kerala promises anti-corruption drives and social welfare reforms, while TVK’s rise in Tamil Nadu may force alliances with Congress for a stable government. Assam’s BJP victory underscores nostalgia for 2022’s “Saffron Wave,” though Opposition parties may regroup in the next 2026 elections.

Who Is Monalisa Bhosle? The Girl Who Went Viral at Kumbh Mela

Not long ago, Monalisa Bhosle was just a young woman from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, selling rudraksha beads at the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. A video of her went massively viral on social media, drawing attention for her striking appearance at a religious gathering. Few would have predicted that months later, she would be at the centre of one of India's most talked-about interfaith marriage controversies.

On March 11, 2026, Monalisa married Mohammed Farman Khan at a temple in Vizhinjam, Kerala — a wedding that quickly ignited a national debate around love jihad, age verification, personal freedom, and political responsibility. Dainikjagranmpcg

The Wedding: What Actually Happened

At a press conference, Monalisa stated clearly that her marriage took place entirely of her own free will and was conducted according to Hindu rituals. She firmly rejected allegations of "love jihad," stating that neither she nor Farman had changed their religion. The Tribune

"I got married as per Hindu customs. This is not love jihad. I respect all religions and consider them equal," she said. News9live

Monalisa also explained that her family had been pressuring her to marry her cousin, which she refused, describing him as being like a brother to her. DNP INDIA

The Age Controversy: Was She a Minor?

This became the most fiercely debated aspect of the entire episode. Claims circulated on social media alleging that Monalisa was underage at the time of the marriage.

Monalisa addressed this directly, presenting her Aadhaar card and birth certificate at the press interaction. Her Madhya Pradesh-issued birth certificate lists her date of birth as January 1, 2008 — making her 18 years old and legally an adult. The Mooknayak

Thiruvananthapuram Police had already verified her age and extended protection to the couple following threats from family members and pressure groups attempting to forcibly separate them. DNP INDIA

Family Opposition: 'Black Magic' and Coercion Claims

Her family's reaction added further fuel to the controversy.

Monalisa's father Jaysingh Bhosle alleged that his daughter was lured to Kerala under the pretext of acting opportunities and had been influenced. Her uncle went as far as suggesting she may have been a victim of black magic. DNP INDIA

Police, however, informed the family that Monalisa is an adult and fully capable of making her own decisions, including whom she marries. The Tribune

CPI(M) Leaders at the Wedding — Political Storm

The wedding's guest list turned it into a full-blown political controversy.

Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty, CPI(M) State Secretary M.V. Govindan, and Rajya Sabha MP A.A. Rahim were among the prominent attendees. LatestLY

Minister Sivankutty described the marriage as an example of social harmony, calling it "the real Kerala story" where people can live freely. DNP INDIA

Critics, however, questioned why senior state leaders attended without ensuring full due diligence on the age verification matter, calling it politically motivated optics.

Monalisa's Bollywood and Film Career

Beyond the controversy, Monalisa has been actively building a career in entertainment.

She is currently shooting for a Malayalam film titled Nagamma, directed by P. Binu Varghese. She is also set to appear in Sanjoy Mishra's film The Diary of Manipur, scheduled for release in April 2026. News9live

Bottom Line: Personal Choice vs. Social Pressure

The Monalisa Bhosle story is bigger than one wedding. It reflects the tensions that still run deep in Indian society around interfaith relationships, a young woman's autonomy, and how quickly personal decisions get consumed by political narratives.

The documents confirm she is an adult. The marriage followed Hindu customs. No religious conversion took place. Yet the debate rages on — proof that interfaith marriage in India remains one of the most charged and contested social issues of our time.