Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: A day after the BJP’s sweeping victory in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday refused to accept the verdict as a reflection of public mandate. Mamata declared that she will not be resigning, alleging irregularities and signalling a multi-pronged political and legal response.“I will not resign, I did not lose, I will not go to Raj Bhavan…The question doesn’t arise. No. Now, I also want to say that we didn’t lose the election. It is their attempt to defeat us. Officially, through the Election Commission, they can defeat us, but morally we won the election.” Mamata Banerjee said, addressing a press conference in Kolkata.Escalating her attack, she said, “We did not fight BJP, we fought EC which worked for the saffron party,”.The TMC chief also announced that the party will set up a 10-member fact-finding committee to visit areas affected by post-poll violence across the state.The statements come even as the BJP tightened its grip on the assembly, taking its tally to 207 seats in the 294-member House after a recount victory in Rajarhat-New Town. The result followed Monday’s decisive mandate, which saw the BJP cross the two-thirds mark and end the TMC’s 15-year rule in the state.With the current assembly term ending on May 6, attention has now shifted to government formation. According to reports, the oath-taking ceremony is likely on May 9, coinciding with Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary, though an official announcement is awaited.
What happens next?
As per procedure, Mamata Banerjee is expected to resign as chief minister but continue in a caretaker capacity until the new government is sworn in. The BJP, as the majority party, will then stake claim to form the government, following which the governor will invite its leader to take oath.Even as the transition process begins, the TMC may pursue multiple options in response to the electoral outcome. However, Mamata Banerjee may find it difficult to sustain her stance of not stepping down as chief minister.TMC may explore legal options including election petitions in the culcutta high court. There is also discussion around broader political mobilisation on the ground and the possibility of coordinated action with INDIA bloc allies.“Sonia ji, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Hemant Soren rang me up. All the allies of INDIA Alliance told me that they are totally and absolutely with me. I think our solidarity will be united and strong for the next days. Akhilesh requested me if he can come today itself but I told him to come tomorrow. So, he will come tomorrow.” TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee said. “One by one everyone will come. My target is very clear. I will strengthen the INDIA team, just like a small person. I don’t have any chair now, so I am a commoner. So, you cannot tell me that I am using your chair. I am now a free bird. I gave my entire life in service to the people, even in these 15 years I have not withdrawn one paisa of pension. I am not taking one paisa of salary also. But now, I am a free bird. So, I have to do some work, that I will manage to do.” She added. A collective petition in the Supreme Court challenging aspects of the SIR process, including voter roll revisions, could also be considered.“We fought against the entire machinery, with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister also involved, there was direct interference. They deleted 90 lakh names from the voter list. When we approached the court, 32 lakh names were restored. But do you know that another seven lakh names, which were submitted together, were also included later, and nobody is aware of that? This shows how such dirty, nasty, and mischievous games were played,” Mamata said, highlighting concerns around the SIR process.
