Governor dissolves West Bengal assembly, Mamata Banerjee’s tenure as Chief Minister ends
Kolkata, May 7: Following the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s landslide victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, a constitutional crisis has emerged in the state. Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has not yet resigned from her post. Meanwhile, discussions are rife that the Governor will dissolve the Assembly and initiate the process of forming a new government.
According to sources, the BJP secured a clear majority by winning 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, while the Trinamool Congress was reduced to 80 seats. Several senior ministers, including Mamata Banerjee, lost the election. Following the election results, Mamata Banerjee alleged that the elections were conducted under “conspiracy” and “pressure.” She stated categorically that she would not resign and should be dismissed if necessary.
At a meeting of newly elected Trinamool Congress MLAs at her Kalighat residence, Mamata Banerjee called the election results a “black day.” She also urged party MLAs to wear black in protest.
Constitutional experts say that retaining the Chief Minister’s office requires the confidence of the Assembly. In such a situation, after losing the majority or the election, the Governor can demand the Chief Minister’s resignation. If the resignation is not given, the Governor can take action to remove the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers from office.
Discussions are also underway regarding maintaining administrative order until the new government is sworn in. Some reports suggest that the Governor may assume administrative responsibility for a limited period under an interim arrangement.
