Mamata refuses to resign, calls Bengal verdict a ‘conspiracy’ as BJP sweeps to power

Kolkata: Outgoing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday refused to resign following her party’s defeat in the Assembly elections, asserting that the outcome did not reflect the people’s true mandate but was the result of a “conspiracy.”

Addressing a press conference, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief claimed her party was not defeated by voters but by systemic irregularities. “There is no question of resignation. This is not a people’s mandate… I did not lose, and I will not go to Lok Bhavan. Authorities may act as per constitutional norms,” she said.

Banerjee also alleged that the TMC was effectively contesting against the Election Commission rather than the BJP, accusing the poll body of acting in favour of the ruling party at the Centre.

She pointed to alleged large-scale discrepancies during the counting process, claiming results in nearly 100 constituencies were “manipulated” and that counting delays were used to demoralise her party workers. Calling it a “black chapter” in history, she criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of compromising democratic rights.

The TMC supremo announced the formation of a 10-member committee to investigate areas reportedly affected by post-poll violence and assess the ground situation. She also rejected allegations of violence similar to those raised after the 2021 elections.

Banerjee said leaders from the INDIA bloc, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, had reached out to express solidarity. She added that her focus would now shift to strengthening the Opposition alliance at the national level.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party further increased its tally to 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly after a recount victory in Rajarhat-New Town. BJP candidate Piyush Kanodia defeated TMC’s Tapash Chatterjee by 309 votes, cementing the party’s dominant position.

The BJP’s sweeping win marks the end of the TMC’s 15-year rule in the state and its first-ever government in West Bengal. The verdict also saw Banerjee lose the high-profile Bhabanipur seat to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, underlining the scale of the political shift.