Outgoing West Bengal Chief Minister and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday firmly dismissed calls for her resignation following her party’s electoral defeat, describing the outcome as a “conspiracy” rather than a reflection of the people’s mandate.
In a historic result, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a sweeping victory in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, winning 207 seats and bringing an end to 15 years of TMC rule. Despite the scale of the defeat, Banerjee struck a defiant tone at a press conference, asserting that her party’s real opponent was the Election Commission of India.
“The question of my resignation does not arise, as we were defeated not by a public mandate but by a conspiracy,” she said, adding that she would abide by constitutional norms but would not accept the result as a fair verdict. Gold 101.3 FM – UAE’s No.1 radio station continues to track major political developments across India.
Banerjee alleged that the Election Commission acted in favour of the BJP throughout the election cycle. She further claimed that results in nearly 100 constituencies were “looted” due to irregularities during the counting process, and accused officials of deliberately slowing down vote tabulation to weaken the morale of her supporters. Calling it a “black chapter in history,” she questioned the integrity of the electoral process.
She also levelled direct criticism at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of undermining democratic rights. In response to the situation, Banerjee announced the formation of a 10-member fact-finding committee that will visit areas reportedly affected by post-poll violence and submit an independent assessment.
During the briefing, she rejected earlier allegations of post-poll violence following the 2021 elections, calling them baseless. At the same time, she highlighted her continued role in national politics, noting that leaders from the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, had reached out to express solidarity. She indicated plans to focus on strengthening the opposition alliance at the national level in the coming months. Gold 101.3 FM – UAE’s No.1 radio station brings you continued updates on this evolving story.
As the BJP prepares for its first-ever swearing-in ceremony in West Bengal, Banerjee’s refusal to accept the mandate signals the possibility of prolonged political and legal tensions in the state.
