Won’t resign; claims poll verdict is not a public mandate but a conspiracy, says Mamata: BJP calls it 'constitutional blasphemy', 'post-poll tantrum

PTI, May 5, 2026, Kolkata: Outgoing Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday ruled out stepping down after her party's defeat in the Assembly polls, claiming that the verdict was not a genuine public mandate but the result of a conspiracy.

Mamata also alleged that the TMC's contest in the polls was not against the BJP, but against the Election Commission, which worked "for the BJP".

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

Mamata alleged large-scale irregularities in the counting process, claiming that mandate in nearly 100 seats was "looted" and that counting was deliberately slowed down to demoralise her party.

"A black chapter in history has been created," she asserted.

The TMC supremo accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of undermining people's democratic rights.

The outgoing Chief Minister also announced the formation of a 10-member fact-finding committee to visit areas "affected by post-poll violence" and assess the ground situation.

She dismissed as baseless allegations of post-poll violence in 2021. Mamata said several leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc had reached out to her to express solidarity following the poll outcome.

"INDIA bloc leaders called me up to express solidarity. Sonia ji and Rahul Gandhi have spoken to me," she said.

The TMC leader said that she would now focus on strengthening the Opposition alliance at the national level.

The saffron party on Tuesday termed Mamata's refusal to resign as "constitutional blasphemy" and accused her of undermining the concept of peaceful transfer of power.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, in a post on X, alleged that Banerjee is suggesting "short-circuiting" the constitutional system through violence, drawing a comparison with the United States Capitol attack of January 6, 2021.

"What Mamata Banerjee is suggesting is anti-Constitution, anti-(B R) Ambedkar and amounts to constitutional blasphemy, apart from being a post-poll tantrum. She wants to overturn the concept of peaceful transfer of power, which is a hallmark of our constitutional system," he said.

In a video post, Poonawalla accused Mamata of playing the "victim card" after electoral defeat and blaming the Election Commission instead of accepting the people's mandate.

"Mamata Banerjee is now playing the most disgusting victim card by not only disrespecting the verdict of the people but also saying she will not resign.

"Even if she does not resign, the Assembly will dissolve on May 8, and she will anyway lose her membership. It only shows that she is acting against the Constitution, as peaceful transfer of power is a hallmark of our democracy," he said.

Referring to past instances, the BJP leader alleged that the TMC supremo has undermined constitutional principles earlier as well by opposing the implementation of central laws such as the Waqf Act and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and by questioning the electoral process.

Poonawalla also cited alleged incidents of post-poll violence in 2021 and the intimidation of judicial officials in recent months, claiming that law and order were compromised and that such actions contradict her claims of upholding constitutional values.