WEDNESDAY CABINET NOD TO INCREASE SC JUDGES STRENGTH 06 MAY, 2026 Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared a proposal to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from 34 judges to 38, including CJI epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard CHINA FIREWORKS PLANT BLAST KILLS 26 An explosion at a fireworks plant in a central Chinese province killed at least 26 people and injured 61 others, state media reported on Tuesday. PAGE 9 Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said a Bill will be brought in the next Parliament session A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI  J8.00  In letter to Lok Bhavan, TVK president requests two-week time to prove majority; talks on with PMK, other parties Cong decides to jump ship, forge pact with TVK @ Chennai A day after a historic electoral victory where his fledgling party secured 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay formally staked claim to form the government. After a meeting at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur on Tuesday where he was elected , leader of the TVK legislature party by the new MLAs, Vijay submitted his letter to the Lok Bhavan. While sources said that the swearing-in ceremony could take place on May 7, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has not yet issued an official invitation. In anticipation of the upcoming ceremony and subsequent floor test, the party has instructed all MLAs to remain in Chennai. According to sources, Vijay has requested two weeks to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly. He has also sought an appointment to meet the governor in person. Governor Arlekar, who is currently in Kerala, is set to return to Chennai on Wednesday . Soon after the MLAs meeting, Vijay along with senior P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi TVK president Vijay arrives at the party headquarters in Chennai | ASHWIN PRASATH Vijay thanks ‘kids’ for win Vijay on Thursday said the TVK’s electoral victory reflected the emotional democracy nurtured by the people in TN for years. He credited younger members of families, particularly children, for the party’s electoral success | P5 TVK’s cabinet probables TVK general secretaries N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, and Arunraj, and deputy general secretaries CTR Nirmalkumar and Raj Mohan are among the probable names under consideration for ministerial berth in Vijay’s first cabinet party functionaries visited the Voice of Commons (VOC), party’s political strategy team office in Teynampet where they discussed the probable choices for the party’s first cabinet. THE Congress on Tuesday decided to enter into a power-sharing arrangement with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu to form a new secular government. This is the first split in the DMK-led alliance a day after it lost power. The Congress has five seats in the new assembly . A resolution to support the TVK was unanASSEMBLY ELECTIONS imously adopted at an urgent meeting of the Tamil Nadu Congress Political Affairs Committee convened at 10.30 pm. The late-night meeting called by AICC in-charge Girish Chodankar was held virtually via Zoom. The announcement of the late night meeting came soon after the Congress central leadership said it had directed the state unit to decide on Vijay’s request for support. The decision to leave the matter to the state leadership was taken at a meeting, attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal and state in-charge Girish Chodankar. Shah BJP observer in Bengal Union home minister Amit Shah will be the BJP’s central observer for the election of its legislative party leader in West Bengal. For Assam, the party appointed Union minister J P Nadda as its central observer. Post-poll violence in the state A TMC worker was killed in a clash in Birbhum district as stray incidents of post-poll violence were reported across Bengal Tuesday, police said This was increased to 13 by an amendment in 1960, to 17 in 1977, and to 25 (excluding CJI) in 1986 A fresh amendment in 2009 further augmented the strength to 30 The last time SC judges strength was enhanced was in 2019, to 33 (excluding CJI) | P7 PAGES 12 Vijay stakes claim, govt likely by May 7 P R A B H A K A R TA M I L A R A S U The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act 1956, as originally enacted, provided for a maximum of 10 judges (excluding CJI) Didn’t lose, won’t resign, says Mamata S U B H E N D U M A I T I @ Kolkata A day after election results showed a landslide victory for the BJP with 207 seats in the 294-member West Bengal assembly TMC supremo and out, going CM Mamata Banerjee refused to resign, alleging conspiracy behind her defeat. “There is no question of my resignation... I did not lose.” While the TMC managed to win 80 seats, against 215 in 2021, Banerjee lost her Bhabanipur seat to BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. Banerjee alleged large-scale irregularities and claimed she was assaulted while visiting a counting centre. “I was kicked in the belly and back.” While her refusal to resign has raised questions, experts say the governor has the authority to intervene. P8 Fragile Iran truce not over yet: US A G E N C I E S @ Dubai/Tehran THE fragile truce in West Asia appeared to crumble on Tuesday with the US trying to force open the Strait of Hormuz by escorting stranded tankers through the narrow waterway and Iran launching fresh attacks in response. The UAE, a staunch US ally on Tuesday said its air defences , were engaging missiles and drones from Iran for the second consecutive day On Monday an Ira. , nian drone attack caused a fire, inDAY juring three people at an energy installation in Fujairah, the UAE’s main oil export terminal bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Attack on civilians On Tuesday the US military said , unacceptable: Modi two US merchant ships made it through the strait, escorted by its Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attacks on UAE navy Defence Secretary Pete Heg. port city of Fujairah that left seth said the US prefers a peaceful three Indian nationals injured, effort to escort more than 22,500 calling it “unacceptable” | P7 mariners stuck on 1,550 vessels due to the closure of the strait. While Iran denounced the US move as a ceasefire violation, Hegseth called it a ‘temporary mission’, adding the ceasefire “is not over”. Trump refused to give an example of what would trigger a truce breach, instead saying: “They know what to do, or what not to do more importantly Iran’s parliament speaker .” and top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned the US that Tehran is ready to escalate the war. P9 67 EXPRESS READ Mann meets Prez, seeks action against rebel MPs Days after defection of seven of 10 Rajya Sabha MLAs, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and rebel MP Raghav Chadha separately met President Droupadi Murmu, each seeking action against the other. P4