Mamata Banerjee has filed a plea in the Calcutta High Court challenging her surprise defeat in the Bhabanipur assembly election to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. Banerjee lost by 15,105 votes, a significant setback in a constituency considered her stronghold for over a decade.
The EU and Ukraine have formally begun accession negotiations, a significant step towards potential membership. This development, previously blocked by Hungary's former government, was enabled by an agreement on minority rights. Leaders hailed it as historic, though the process is expected to take years, especially while Ukraine is at war.
Abraham George, the first Indian-American chairperson of the Texas Republican Party, lost his re-election bid to D’rinda Randall. His defeat was met with cheers from both MAGA supporters, who celebrated the ousting of an individual of Indian origin, and the Indian-American community, who accused him of ignoring racism faced by Indians in Texas.
Rep. Song Eon-seog, floor leader of South Korea's main opposition People Power Party (PPP), resigns after the party wins only 4 out of 16 key local election seats, despite securing Seoul, amid calls for party leader Jang Dong-heyok to also step down.
Cho Kuk, leader of South Korea's Rebuilding Korea Party, announced his resignation following a defeat in a parliamentary by-election. The party also failed to secure any seats in the local elections.
Yoo Jeong-bok, the People Power Party candidate who failed to win a third term as Incheon mayor, stated on May 4th that he "humbly accepts the results." He expressed gratitude to citizens for their support and apologized for not meeting expectations, having secured 46.06% of the vote against rival Park Chan-dae.
Expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee claims West Bengal Assembly Speaker has recognised him as the leader of the opposition. The rebel faction, claiming support of 58 MLAs, has proposed a new leadership structure, challenging Abhishek Banerjee's authority while seeking Mamata Banerjee's advisory role.
US judge rejects Democrats' request to block Trump's voter eligibility order
Donald Trump's "revenge tour" targets Republican dissenters, exemplified by Thomas Massie's primary defeat. Critics warn this purge of critics, while consolidating Trump's power, could alienate moderate voters and jeopardize the GOP's fragile majority and legislative agenda.
The Democratic National Committee released a postmortem on its 2024 election defeat after initially withholding it. The report, authored by Paul Rivera, focuses on lost demographics and campaign spending but omits Gaza and Biden's age, drawing criticism.
Hungary's ruling Fidesz party, led by former PM Orbán, suffered a major defeat in the April general election. Reporting from the ground reveals how the country has become stifling under Orbán's 16-year rule, with suppression of dissent and marginalization of those deemed inconvenient by the government.
Mamata Banerjee vowed to remove the BJP from power in Delhi following her party's defeat in West Bengal elections. TMC leaders also alleged post-poll violence and sought court intervention.
Mamata Banerjee vowed to remove the BJP from power in Delhi following her party's defeat in West Bengal elections. TMC leaders also alleged post-poll violence and sought court intervention.
Mamata Banerjee vowed to remove the BJP from power in Delhi following her party's defeat in West Bengal elections. TMC leaders also alleged post-poll violence and sought court intervention.
UK Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer faces a potential leadership challenge after significant election losses, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting considering a bid, as the party navigates internal turmoil and the need for a distinctive alternative agenda.
UK Labour leader Keir Starmer reiterated his commitment to governing and dismissed leadership challenges after a significant election defeat, acknowledging the economic cost of political instability.
PM on the brink with Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood believed to be among those urging him to set out a timetable for departureStarmer on the brink as cabinet ministers urge him to quitGood morning. “Stories beat spreadsheets,” Keir Starmer declared in his speech yesterday. But yesterday was a day when the spreadsheets had the upper hand. Most news organisations were using them to keep a track of Labour MPs who were coming out and calling for Starmer’s resignation and, after his speech in the morning, the numbers started to escalate. Here is the LabourList one; by the end of last night they were on 77.The sort of names on the spreadsheets changed too. Initially it was mostly leftwingers calling for the PM to go, with the Andy Burnham supporters stressing the need for a timetable for an orderly transition (ie – a slow process, allowing Burnham to win a byelection before a leadership contest). But in the afternoon government loyalists, and some prominent Wes Streeting supporters, started speaking out. And by early evening parliamentary private secretaries (technically, people on the government “payroll”) were joining in too.The Guardian understands that two senior cabinet ministers – Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary – told the prime minister he should oversee an orderly transition of power after crushing election defeats risked ringing the death knell on his premiership.At least two others – believed to be John Healey and David Lammy – discussed with Starmer how they should take a “responsible, dignified, orderly” approach to what might follow. Several others – including Richard Hermer and Steve Reed – were defiant, urging him to fight on. Continue reading...
In the Johor palace where Malaysia’s once-dominant ruling party was born, Umno’s leaders posed on Monday with the country’s king in a carefully staged reminder of the power they commanded for six decades – and the influence they now hope to reclaim. The United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the Malay nationalist party that led Malaysia from independence until its shock election defeat eight years ago, marked its 80th anniversary in its birthplace with a grand show of unity as it sought to...
In her first comments since Labour's election defeats, the ex-deputy PM calls for bolder action from the prime minister.
In her first comments since Labour's election defeats, the ex-deputy PM calls for bolder action from the prime minister.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing a new setback to his leadership after a former minister said she would challenge him for the top job.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reeling from a crushing local election defeat, faced a new setback to his leadership on Saturday when a former minister said she would challenge him for the top job if no one else stepped forward. Starmer’s Labour Party recorded the worst losses of a governing party in municipal polls since 1995, prompting a growing number of his own lawmakers to call on him to quit. To try to shore up his position in the party earlier on Saturday, he named two influential...
Welsh Labour leader and first minister Eluned Morgan loses seat with party pushed into third place behind Plaid Cymru and ReformThis liveblog is now closed. Read the Guardian’s report on the elections here and find all our election coverage here.2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votes2026 elections mapped: how Labour lost ground in different directionsWe’re getting statements from some of the political parties now as we wait for results.For the Conservatives, party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said:We have run an energetic and positive campaign, showcasing that we have a clear plan to get Britain working again and that we have the team to deliver it... We know that so soon after a historic general election defeat and contesting wards won during the Party’s polling highs, that this will be a difficult set of elections for us. But we will continue to rebuild and to show the public that we have changed, to demonstrate that only this new Conservative party is a credible alternative.People are deeply disappointed with a Labour government that has been too timid to fix the country, but they are also appalled by the rise of Reform and Nigel Farage’s Trump-style politics. While those on the extremes of the right and the left want to burn everything down, Liberal Democrats want to fix what’s broken. Every Liberal Democrat local champion elected today will fight tirelessly for the communities they serve.I’ve travelled across England and Wales and I’m hearing the same everywhere I go – confidence that we will win more councillors than ever before. The news from the doorstep is that we will be taking seats from not just Labour but the Tories and Lib Dems too, from all across the country. Voters are responding to the fact that Greens are the only party taking the cost-of-living crisis seriously, with real plans to cut bills, reduce rents and provide genuinely affordable homes, as well as tackling the climate and nature crisis.Throughout this election, we have heard a clear appetite for change. People want a government that will stand up for Wales and focus relentlessly on the key issues affecting their lives. People have told us they have been inspired by Rhun ap Iorwerth’s leadership and driven by a desire for a positive alternative to Reform UK’s chaos and division. Continue reading...
Welsh Labour leader and first minister Eluned Morgan loses seat with party pushed into third place behind Plaid Cymru and Reform2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votesWe’re getting statements from some of the political parties now as we wait for results.For the Conservatives, party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said:We have run an energetic and positive campaign, showcasing that we have a clear plan to get Britain working again and that we have the team to deliver it... We know that so soon after a historic general election defeat and contesting wards won during the Party’s polling highs, that this will be a difficult set of elections for us. But we will continue to rebuild and to show the public that we have changed, to demonstrate that only this new Conservative party is a credible alternative.People are deeply disappointed with a Labour government that has been too timid to fix the country, but they are also appalled by the rise of Reform and Nigel Farage’s Trump-style politics. While those on the extremes of the right and the left want to burn everything down, Liberal Democrats want to fix what’s broken. Every Liberal Democrat local champion elected today will fight tirelessly for the communities they serve.I’ve travelled across England and Wales and I’m hearing the same everywhere I go – confidence that we will win more councillors than ever before. The news from the doorstep is that we will be taking seats from not just Labour but the Tories and Lib Dems too, from all across the country. Voters are responding to the fact that Greens are the only party taking the cost-of-living crisis seriously, with real plans to cut bills, reduce rents and provide genuinely affordable homes, as well as tackling the climate and nature crisis.Throughout this election, we have heard a clear appetite for change. People want a government that will stand up for Wales and focus relentlessly on the key issues affecting their lives. People have told us they have been inspired by Rhun ap Iorwerth’s leadership and driven by a desire for a positive alternative to Reform UK’s chaos and division. Continue reading...
