Kolkata, May 6: The constitutional process for forming a government in West Bengal has commenced following the assembly election results. Outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has refused to resign, raising questions about the mandate.
State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal clarified on Wednesday that the Election Commission’s role is limited to conducting elections and announcing results; the subsequent process is entirely constitutional.
Regarding Mamata Banerjee’s refusal to resign, he stated, “What is written in the Constitution will be followed. I have no comments on this matter. The Election Commission has no role here.”
He explained that when the Election Commission issues the legal notification of winning candidates, it is sent to the Governor, after which the process of forming a new assembly begins.
“We must provide this legal notification to the Governor, indicating who won in which seat. Following this, the new assembly will be formed. The term of the old assembly ends today, so the new assembly will be constituted. After that, the legislators will take their oaths, and the Governor’s office will issue the necessary notifications,” he added.
This clarification comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has faced a significant setback in the elections, marking the end of its 15-year rule in the state.
Despite the results, Mamata Banerjee has stated that she will not resign voluntarily, claiming that the election results do not reflect the true will of the people.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to form a government in West Bengal with a clear majority. In the 294-member assembly, the majority mark is 196, and the BJP has won 206 out of the 293 declared seats, significantly surpassing the majority threshold.
The TMC secured victory in 81 seats. Additionally, Mamata Banerjee was defeated by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari by over 15,000 votes in the Bhawanipur seat.
A re-poll will take place on May 21 for the Falta seat in the South 24 Parganas district, with counting scheduled for May 24.
The election results indicate a significant shift in the state’s political landscape. The TMC failed to win any seats in ten districts, including Cooch Behar, East Midnapore, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling, and suffered losses in tribal and Matua-dominated areas.
As the constitutional process moves forward, all eyes are on the Governor’s formal invitation and the swearing-in of the new council of ministers.
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