West Bengal Assembly dissolved, Mamata Banerjee no longer CM
West Bengal Assembly dissolved: In a major political development, the Governor of West Bengal, RN Ravi, has dissolved the state Legislative Assembly, bringing the Trinamool Congress government to an end. With this move, Mamata Banerjee is no longer the Chief Minister of the state.
The decision was taken using powers granted under Article 174(2)(b) of the Constitution of India. In an official notification, the Governor stated that the Assembly stands dissolved with effect from May 7, 2026.
Mamata Banerjee, 71, had refused to step down despite her party’s electoral setback. She had repeatedly alleged irregularities in the election process, claiming that the BJP’s strong performance in the state was influenced by large-scale vote manipulation and tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs). She also accused the Election Commission of bias, asserting that the mandate was secured through unfair means.
The tenure of the outgoing government ended a day before the dissolution. Constitutional experts note that once a government’s term expires, it cannot continue in office without a renewed mandate. Former Government of India Secretary Jawhar Sircar stated that the Governor will now oversee interim administration until a new Chief Minister is sworn in.
The political atmosphere in the state has remained tense since the declaration of results. The Trinamool Congress alleged discrepancies in around 100 constituencies where its candidates were initially leading. To maintain order during polling, a significant deployment of central forces was carried out. However, incidents of violence were reported from multiple districts after the results, resulting in several casualties. Among those killed was Chandranath Rath, an aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who was shot dead in Madhyamgram.
The BJP, which has emerged as the dominant force, is yet to announce its Chief Ministerial candidate. A meeting of newly elected MLAs has been scheduled to elect the leader of the legislative party.
Notably, Article 174 of the Constitution defines the powers of the Governor concerning the state legislature. Clause (2) allows the Governor to either prorogue the House or dissolve the Legislative Assembly.
While prorogation ends a session without affecting the tenure of the House, dissolution leads to the termination of the Assembly, paving the way for fresh elections.
- With inputs from agencies
