In a day of high political drama, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has refused to step down despite her party's defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections. Addressing a press conference at her Kalighat residence, a defiant Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission (EC) of "conspiring" to steal the people’s mandate.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief faced a double blow, losing her own stronghold of Bhabanipur to BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari by over 15,000 votes.
Allegations of Physical Abuse and CCTV Blackouts
Banerjee leveled serious charges regarding the counting process at the Sakhawat Memorial School center. She alleged that she was physically assaulted and claiming she was pushed and "kicked in the stomach" while CCTV cameras were intentionally switched off.
"Even my agents were not allowed to enter. They hit me and the TV [monitors] were shut down. I am embarrassed as a woman by how they deal with others," she told reporters. She further accused the Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF) of supporting the BJP and blocking TMC workers from entering legally designated counting areas.
Election Commission Dismisses Claims
Kolkata South District Election Officer (DEO) Randhir Kumar dismissed the allegations as "baseless." In an official statement, the DEO maintained that the counting process was independent, transparent, and strictly followed all guidelines.
"The CCTV was never shut down. The claims of an assault on the candidate are unfounded," the statement read. The official explained that counting was briefly paused only because the candidate insisted on stopping it, but later resumed as per protocol.
No Resignation: "A Conspiracy, Not a Mandate"
Despite the BJP securing 207 seats to the TMC's 80, Banerjee remains adamant. "There is no question of me resigning. We were defeated not by public mandate but by conspiracy," she asserted. She confirmed she would not be heading to the Raj Bhavan to tender her resignation, calling the results "black history" written by the Election Commission.
Banerjee announced she would consult with INDIA bloc leaders—including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal—to challenge the results, potentially in court. She also announced the formation of a 10-member research committee to investigate reports of post-poll violence.
