In the aftermath of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election results, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has categorically refused to resign, challenging both the legitimacy of the verdict and the conduct of the electoral process. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Banerjee asserted that the outcome did not reflect the true will of the people but was instead the result of a “conspiracy” orchestrated through institutional manipulation.
“I will not resign, I did not lose,” Banerjee declared, adding that she would not visit the Raj Bhavan to tender her resignation. Maintaining that her party had achieved a “moral victory,” she argued that the official results announced by the Election Commission of India did not represent a genuine public mandate. According to her, while the BJP may have secured victory on paper, the ethical legitimacy of the result remains questionable.
Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission, singling out Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and accusing him of undermining democratic principles. She raised concerns over the functioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs), questioning how they could reportedly show 80–95% battery charge after extensive usage during polling. “The CEC became the villain of this election,” she said, alleging that democratic rights were compromised.
The TMC chief further claimed that nearly 100 constituencies witnessed “looted mandates,” alleging deliberate delays in counting to demoralize her party’s workers. She described the election as a “black chapter” in the state’s political history, citing unprecedented irregularities and administrative interference. According to Banerjee, widespread transfers of officials—including district magistrates, police officers, and administrative personnel—were carried out with political motives ahead of voting.
Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Banerjee alleged a coordinated effort between the ruling party at the Centre and the Election Commission. “We did not fight the BJP; we fought the EC,” she said, describing the situation as a “setting” between the two. She also accused top national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, of influencing the electoral process.
Among her most serious allegations was the claim that around 90 lakh names were deleted from the voter list, with only partial restoration after legal intervention. She also pointed to unexplained additions to the rolls, suggesting systemic manipulation of voter data.
Banerjee additionally alleged widespread violence during both campaigning and counting. She claimed that TMC workers and counting agents were attacked and intimidated, and even accused security personnel and political opponents of physically assaulting her during the counting process. According to her, CCTV cameras were switched off at critical moments, raising further suspicion about transparency.
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