Kolkata: Outgoing West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday dismissed calls for her resignation following her party’s electoral defeat, characterising the results as a "conspiracy" rather than a reflection of the public will.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a historic and decisive mandate in the 294-member Assembly, winning 207 seats and effectively terminating 15 years of TMC governance. Despite the margin, Banerjee remained defiant during a press conference, asserting that her party’s primary adversary was the Election Commission (EC) itself.

"The question of my resignation does not arise, as we were defeated not by a public mandate but by a conspiracy," she stated. "I did not lose, I will not go to Lok Bhavan. They can take action as per constitutional norms."

Banerjee alleged that the Election Commission functioned as an extension of the BJP throughout the cycle. She further claimed that the mandate in nearly 100 constituencies was "looted" through widespread counting irregularities and argued that officials deliberately slowed the tabulation process to demoralise her supporters. "A black chapter in history has been created," she said.

Allegations and Institutional Critique

The TMC supremo levelled sharp criticism at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of actively undermining the democratic rights of the electorate. To address the aftermath of the vote, Banerjee announced the creation of a 10-member fact-finding committee. This group is tasked with visiting regions reportedly affected by "post-poll violence" to provide an independent assessment of the ground situation.

During the briefing, she also rejected previous allegations of post-poll violence following the 2021 elections, describing them as entirely baseless.

National Consolidation

Despite the local setback, Banerjee emphasised her continued relevance in national politics. She noted that prominent figures within the opposition INDIA bloc—including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi—had contacted her to offer their solidarity.

"INDIA bloc leaders called me up to express solidarity," she confirmed, adding that she intends to pivot her focus toward strengthening the opposition coalition on the national stage in the coming months.

While the BJP prepares for its first-ever swearing-in ceremony in the state, Banerjee’s refusal to acknowledge the validity of the mandate suggests a period of prolonged political and legal friction in West Bengal.

With inputs from PTI