BJP Wins West Bengal; Banerjee Refuses Resign
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- Mamata Banerjee said she will not resign after her party’s defeat, claiming she “did not lose” officially and morally won the election.
- BJP secured more than two‑thirds of West Bengal’s 294 seats, defeating the Trinamool Congress and ending its 13‑year rule.
- Trinamool Congress saw its seat count drop to 80 from 215, and Banerjee lost her own constituency.
- Mamata Banerjee alleged roughly 100 seats were “forcibly taken” and that the Election Commission was biased, though she offered no evidence.
- Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal called Banerjee’s allegations “baseless”.
- Suvendu Adhikari who defeated Banerjee, said the election outcome is “mentioned in the constitution”.
- West Bengal governor can demand Banerjee’s resignation or wait until her term expires on May 7, after which a new government will be sworn in.
Why it matters: BJP’s landslide adds a new foothold in eastern India, while Banerjee’s refusal to step down forces the state governor to decide on a resignation before her term ends on May 7, and Banerjee can appeal the result in court, even as the chief electoral officer called her allegations baseless.
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