Mamata Banerjee refused to resign after the BJP scored a historic victory in West Bengal, winning more than two-thirds of the 294 assembly seats and reducing the TMC's count from 215 to 80. Banerjee, who lost her own seat, alleged around 100 seats were "forcibly taken" and accused the Election Commission of bias, without providing evidence. The state election chief called the claims "baseless." The governor can ask for her resignation or let her term end on Thursday, and Banerjee may legally challenge the results.
Mamata Banerjee Refuses To Resign After BJP Landslide In West Bengal, Calls Result A 'Moral Victory'
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, leader of Trinamool Congress (TMC), speaks during a press conference, as the Bharatiya Janata Party leads in the West Bengal state assembly elections, in Kolkata, India, May 5, 2026. REUTERS/Sahiba Chawdhary
An Indian chief minister swept from power in a historic state election loss said she would not resign, insisting on Tuesday that she had "not been defeated" despite official results showing a decisive victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP won more than two-thirds of the 294-seat West Bengal assembly as vote counts concluded on Monday, dealing a major blow to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC), which had governed the state since 2011. The TMC's tally dropped from 215 seats to 80, and Banerjee was defeated in her own constituency.
At a news briefing, Banerjee alleged that about 100 seats had been "forcibly taken" from her party and accused the Election Commission of bias, though she offered no specific evidence to support those claims.
"I will not resign, I did not lose... officially, through the Election Commission, they (the BJP) can defeat us, but morally, we won the election," Banerjee said.
West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, dismissed her allegations as "baseless." Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP candidate who defeated Banerjee, said the process was governed by the constitution and followed legal procedures.
Governor, Term And Legal Options
Under the Indian constitution, the state's governor may request Banerjee's resignation or simply allow her term to run its course; once her term ends, newly elected legislators will be sworn in and the process of forming a new government will proceed. Banerjee's current term is due to expire on Thursday.
A defeated candidate may contest election results in court on grounds such as corrupt practices, improper acceptance or rejection of nominations or votes, candidate disqualification, or other election-law violations that could have affected the outcome. Banerjee did not say whether she planned to pursue a legal challenge.
Campaign Context
Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and senior BJP leaders campaigned intensively in West Bengal, emphasizing concerns about alleged illegal immigration from Bangladesh and criticizing the state's economic performance under Banerjee. The BJP's breakthrough in West Bengal marks a significant expansion of the party's influence in eastern India.
(Reporting by Sakshi Dayal and Shilpa Jamkhandikar; edited by YP Rajesh and Gareth Jones)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, leader of Trinamool Congress (TMC), speaks during a press conference, as the Bharatiya Janata Party leads in the West Bengal state assembly elections, in Kolkata, India, May 5, 2026. REUTERS/Sahiba Chawdhary
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