Mamata Banerjee Defiant After BJP Sweeps West Bengal, Alleging 'Loot of Seats'

Key facts

• BJP won 207 seats, TMC won 80 in the 294-seat West Bengal assembly.
• Mamata Banerjee lost her Bhabanipur seat to former lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari by 10,994 votes.
• 22 of 35 TMC ministers who contested were defeated, including Banerjee.
• Voter turnout in the second phase reached a record 92.65%.
• 90 lakh voters were deleted under the Special Intensive Revision before the election.
• RG Kar rape victim's mother Ratna Debnath won the Panihati seat as a BJP candidate.
• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi supported Banerjee's claim that 'more than 100 seats were stolen'.
• CPM state secretary Mohammed Salim said the mandate was against TMC's 'corruption, tyranny and misgovernance'.

A Historic Defeat in a Longtime Fortress

The Bharatiya Janata Party has won its first-ever government in West Bengal, capturing 207 of the state's 294 assembly seats and shattering the dominance of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, which secured only 80 seats. The result, announced on May 9, marks a seismic shift in a state where the TMC had held power since 2011 and where Banerjee herself had been chief minister for 15 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that Bengal has been 'freed from fear and will now progress,' framing the victory as a liberation from the TMC's rule. The BJP's sweep was so comprehensive that it unseated 22 of the 35 TMC ministers who contested, including Banerjee herself in her Bhabanipur stronghold.

Banerjee Refuses to Resign, Alleges Conspiracy

In a defiant press conference in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee refused to resign, asserting that her party did not lose the election but was defeated by a conspiracy. 'The question of my resignation does not arise, as we were defeated not by a public mandate but by a conspiracy,' she said. 'I did not lose; I will not go to Lok Bhavan. They can take action as per constitutional norms.' Banerjee accused the Election Commission of playing 'nasty games' against her party and working 'for the BJP' in connivance with Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. She alleged that the mandate in more than 100 seats was 'looted' and termed the BJP's victory 'immoral.' Congress leader Rahul Gandhi echoed her claim, stating, 'We agree with Mamata Banerjee; more than 100 seats were stolen in West Bengal.'

The Fall of Bhabanipur and the Rise of Suvendu Adhikari

One of the most symbolic defeats was Banerjee's loss in her own Bhabanipur constituency to Suvendu Adhikari, a former TMC lieutenant who crossed over to the BJP and served as leader of opposition in the outgoing assembly. Adhikari secured a lead of 10,994 votes, a margin that underscored the scale of the TMC's collapse. As Banerjee left the counting centre at Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls' High School, she was greeted by 'Jai Shree Ram' slogans from emboldened BJP supporters. The TMC supremo, visibly distraught, alleged that one of her counting agents had been forced out of the venue. Security around her residence in Kalighat was later beefed up after a group of people gathered nearby chanting the same slogan.

Record Turnout and Voter Deletions Under Scrutiny

The election saw a record voter turnout of 92.65% during the second phase of polling on April 29, following an earlier phase on April 23. However, the process was marred by controversy over the deletion of 90 lakh voters under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted before the election, a move that the TMC alleged was designed to disenfranchise its supporters. Exit polls had predicted a close contest, but their reliability was questioned after the 2021 election, where most polls forecast a tight race but the TMC secured a decisive victory. This time, the BJP's landslide exceeded even the most optimistic projections.

Post-Poll Violence and Allegations of Targeting

In the aftermath of the results, Banerjee alleged that TMC party offices were being targeted in post-poll violence, warning of 'strong resistance' if such attacks continued. The TMC's Asansol office was vandalised and banners torn down, according to video reports. BJP leaders, meanwhile, claimed that a mass exodus from the TMC was likely following the verdict. The CPM state secretary Mohammed Salim offered a different interpretation, stating that the mandate was against the TMC's 'corruption, tyrannical rule and misgovernance' and that the BJP had filled the opposition space. In a notable subplot, Ratna Debnath, the mother of the RG Kar rape victim, won the Panihati seat as a BJP candidate, defeating TMC candidate Tirthankar Ghosh, son of a five-time sitting MLA.

What Comes Next for West Bengal and the TMC

The BJP is set to form its first government in West Bengal on May 9, ending an era of TMC rule that began in 2011. Banerjee, who has been chief minister since then, faces an uncertain future as her party grapples with the loss of power and the defection of key leaders. She has vowed to 'bounce back,' but the scale of the defeat—losing 63% of her cabinet and her own seat—raises questions about the TMC's ability to recover. Prime Minister Modi's victory speech framed the result as a new chapter for Bengal, promising progress and an end to 'fear.' The BJP now holds power in a state that was once considered an impenetrable fortress for the TMC, reshaping the political landscape of eastern India.

A Mandate or a Loot? The Battle Over Legitimacy

The election has left a deeply divided verdict on its legitimacy. Banerjee's allegations of a conspiracy involving the Election Commission, central forces, and the BJP leadership have been echoed by the Congress but dismissed by the BJP and the CPM. The CPM's Salim argued that the people voted against TMC's misgovernance, not for the BJP's ideology. As the BJP prepares to govern, the TMC's challenge will be to rebuild while contesting the narrative of the election's fairness. The record deletion of voters and the tight security around Banerjee's residence suggest that the political battle in West Bengal is far from over, even as the ballots have been counted.

The bottom line

• The BJP won 207 seats, its first majority in West Bengal, ending TMC's 15-year rule.
• Mamata Banerjee lost her own seat and refused to resign, alleging a conspiracy by the Election Commission and the BJP.
• 22 of 35 TMC ministers were defeated, highlighting deep anti-incumbency.
• 90 lakh voters were deleted before the election, a move the TMC says disenfranchised its supporters.
• Post-poll violence targeted TMC offices, and security was increased around Banerjee's residence.
• The CPM attributed the TMC's loss to corruption and misgovernance, while the Congress backed Banerjee's claim of stolen seats.