Kolkata: Outgoing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared on Tuesday that she would not resign from her post despite a crushing defeat in the assembly elections, asserting that she did not truly lose the mandate. During a defiant press conference in Kolkata, Banerjee claimed that while the Bharatiya Janata Party might have officially won the election through its alleged influence over the Election Commission, the Trinamool Congress remains the moral victor in the eyes of the public. She maintained that the question of her resignation does not arise and stated firmly that she would not be visiting the Raj Bhavan to tender her departure.
Banerjee levelled serious allegations against both the BJP and the Election Commission, describing their cooperation as a nexus that systematically undermined the democratic process. She claimed that the BJP forcibly occupied counting centres and alleged that she was personally mistreated, stating she was pushed and kicked during the counting process. Furthermore, the TMC leader asserted that approximately 100 seats were stolen from her party under the guise of specific electoral regulations, which she referred to as SIR, effectively robbing the administration of its rightful victory.
The 2026 assembly election results, declared on Monday, marked a historic shift in West Bengal’s political landscape, with the BJP securing a commanding 207 out of 294 seats. This victory paves the way for the first-ever BJP government in the province, ending Banerjee’s 15-year tenure as the head of the state. The Trinamool Congress, which had dominated regional politics for over a decade, saw its strength reduced significantly, managing to secure only 80 seats in a result that has stunned political observers across the country.
Despite the clear legislative majority obtained by her rivals, Banerjee remains combative, framing the transition of power as a result of administrative manipulation rather than a genuine shift in voter sentiment. The political atmosphere in Kolkata remains tense as the BJP leadership prepares for its swearing-in ceremony, while the outgoing administration continues to challenge the legitimacy of the electoral outcome. This refusal to step down marks a significant departure from traditional parliamentary decorum, signaling a potentially volatile period for the state’s governance.
