Ex-CJI is SC mediator in Kapur vs Kapur Chandrachud will act as a mediator in the dispute between late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s mother Rani Kapur and wife Priya Kapur over a trust. Asking the parties to participate in the mediation proceedings with an open mind, the apex court said they may not make any statements in the public and also not go on social media about the dispute. “It is a family dispute. Let it be confined among the family only,” a bench of Justices said. hubballi l friday l may 08, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l city EDITION CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI TVK president calls on Arlekar again, submits new letter staking claim as single largest party Vijay yet to show majority support: Guv Assembly elections TVK chief Vijay returning from the Lok Bhavan on Thursday | Express T Muruganandham & P r a b h a k a r Ta m i l a r a s u @ Chennai Hours after TVK president Vijay accompanied by senior lead, ers of the party called on Tamil , Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Thursday seeking an invitation to form a government, the Lok Bhavan in Chennai said the TVK is yet to establish that it has majority support (118 MLAs-elect) to do so. “The governor invited TVK president C Joseph Vijay to the Lok Bhavan. During the meeting, he explained that the requisite majority support in the TN Legislative Assembly, essential for forming the government, has not been established,” an official release from the Lok Bhavan said. Sources said the decision not to invite the TVK to form the government was taken after the governor sought legal opinion from Additional Solicitor General of India A R L Sundaresan. The issue stems from the TVK’s error in initially staking claim to form the government as a part of an alliance, along with the Congress, rather than as the single largest party in the House. The TVK has 108 seats in the 234-strong Assembly with Con, gress having five. As the TVK, in its letter to the governor, had referred to itself as part of an alliance, it was required to demonstrate the support of 118 MLAs-elect and the governor’s office sought clarity on which other parties were prepared to back the TVK. Sources added that during the 30-minute meeting on Thursday, the TVK president submitted a fresh letter to the governor staking his claim to form the government as leader of the single largest party . During their meeting, on Wednesday too, the governor had sought from the TVK chief proof of majority support. He also explained to Vijay why the proof is necessary, citing past instances where courts have censured governors for failing to ascertain whether the party claiming stake enjoys a majority, sources said. They added that when Vijay said he was ready to face a floor test in the state Assembly, Arlekar referred to past orders. Having been asked to show proof of majority, TVK party functionaries have reached out to the DMK’s allies of CPI, CPM, VCK and IUML, each of which have two seats. P7 House dissolved, Didi’s refusal to quit infructuous S u b h e n d u m a i t i @ Kolkata Alliance needs proof of majority The TVK has 108 seats in the 234-strong Assembly, with Congress having five. As the TVK, in its letter, had referred to itself as part of an alliance, it was required to demonstrate the support of 118 MLAselect and the governor’s office sought proof of majority All about Art 174(2b)used in WB Under Article 174 (2b) of the Constitution, the governor of a state may dissolve the Legislative Assembly. This power is a crucial aspect of the Governor’s responsibility, and comes into play when the govt’s tenure ends or it no longer holds majority GOVERNOR R N Ravi on Thursday issued an order dissolving the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, whose term expired the same day, after outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused to resign following her Trinamool Congress party’s drubbing in the state assembly elections, results of which were declared on May 4. “In exercise of the power conferred on me by sub-clause (b) of Clause (2) of Article 174 of the Constitution of India, I hereby dissolve the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal with effect from the 7th of May 2026,” the order read. The current assembly was constituted in May 2021 after the Trinamool Congress, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, returned to power for the third consecutive term in the state. The dissolution brought the constitutional stand-off that had gripped the state since Monday to a meek end. In another development, West Bengal police on Thursday recovered one of the two motorbikes used in the murder of Suvendu Adhikari’s personal assistant Chandranath Rath near a tea shop in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday . Police are examining CCTV footage. No arrest has been made so far in connection with the murder. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is reaching Kolkata on Friday in his role as observer of the BJP legislature party’f first meeting to elect its leader. The swearing-in ceremony of the new chief minister is slated for Saturday at the sprawling Brigade Parade Ground. 47 out of 63 MLAs back KC in Kerala CM race K S SREE J I T H @ T’Puram AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal seems to be emerging the front runner in the race for the post of Kerala chief minister as 47 newly elected Congress MLAs, including KPCC president Sunny Joseph, proposed his name during the one-on-one meetings with the central observers on Thursday . The MLA-elects who favoured Venugopal as chief minister include Sandeep Varier, Sajeev Joseph, Usha Vijayan, and T O Mohan. I C Balakrishnan, a supporter of former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, proposed both Venugopal and Chennithala for the top post. Sources said eight MLAs supported Chennithala, while six indicated preference for V D Satheesan, the incumbent Leader of Opposition who is projected as the popular choice for the top post Both the Chennithala and Satheesan camps claimed to have the support of 23 and 35 MLAs, respectively . The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting held in T h i r u va n a n t h ap u r a m o n Thursday passed a unanimous resolution authorising party president Mallikarjun Kharge to nominate the next CM. The meeting was attended by central observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, along with AICC general secretary incharge of Kerala, Dee pa Dasmunsi. Chennithala and Satheesan IAF Wing Cdr, wife attacked in road rage case P r a v e e n K u m a r @ Bengaluru AICC observer Mukul Wasnik carrying documents related to MLAs’ support for CM post | B P Deepu met the central observers while Ve n u g o p a l s k i p p e d t h e meeting. Besides the 63 MLAs, Maken and Wasnik held one-on-one meetings with Congress MPs and senior leaders to know their preference for the post. It is learnt that the Congress high command will announce the name by Saturday or Sunday . Sources indicated the new chief minister would take oath w i t h i n t wo d ay s o f t h e announcement. Wing Commander K Santosh Kumar (49) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and his wife, a dentist, were attacked by a gang of six to seven miscreants, in a road rage case near Jalahalli. The couple, residents of Jalahalli, had gone to an electrical appliance showroom on the Bengaluru-Tumakuru main road to buy a microwave oven. Due to a heavy traffic jam, they had parked their vehicle much before the shop. While returning to their vehicle, they were unable to walk on the footpath, with vehicles randomly parked on it. They asked an auto driver to give them some space. A person in the passenger seat started abusing the couple and hit the IAF officer with a roadside tree branch. When the couple kept walking, a gang of six to seven miscreants followed and attacked them.  P7