A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a decisive victory in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) head Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday rejected the election outcome, saying she does not accept it as a genuine reflection of the public mandate and will not resign as chief minister.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee claimed that the TMC had not been defeated in a moral sense and alleged that the election outcome was influenced by irregularities.
She also suggested that while the Election Commission may have delivered the result formally, it does not represent the true will of the people.
“I will not resign. I did not lose. I will not go to Raj Bhavan. The question does not arise,” she said, adding that the party’s defeat was engineered and not reflective of ground reality.
She further intensified her criticism by alleging that the TMC was effectively contesting not only the BJP but also the Election Commission, which she accused of acting in favour of the ruling party at the Centre.
Alongside her political remarks, Banerjee announced that the TMC will form a 10-member fact-finding committee to visit areas affected by post-poll violence across the state.
The comments came as the BJP strengthened its position in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, taking its tally to 207 seats after a recount win in Rajarhat-New Town, further consolidating its majority and ending the TMC’s 15-year rule.
With the current assembly term ending on 6 May, the focus has now shifted to government formation, with reports suggesting the swearing-in ceremony may take place on 9 May, coinciding with Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary, though official confirmation is still pending.
Despite the political transition process beginning, the TMC is reportedly considering legal challenges, including election petitions in the Calcutta High Court, and may also seek broader political coordination with INDIA bloc partners.
