Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday made it clear that she will not resign as the Chief Minister of West Bengal despite her party’s heavy defeat in the Assembly elections. She said she does not accept the outcome as a genuine loss and will continue her political fight. Her statement came shortly after the All India Trinamool Congress suffered a major setback in the polls.

Speaking at a press conference in Kolkata, Banerjee strongly criticised the election process. She alleged large-scale irregularities, including rigging, manipulation of voter lists, and widespread violence. She claimed that “100 seats were stolen” and described the situation as a “murder of democracy”. Her remarks reflected serious concerns about the fairness of the electoral process.

Banerjee rejected the election verdict and said her party was not just contesting against the Bharatiya Janata Party but “an entire system”. She repeated her allegations of bias and collusion involving the Election Commission of India and central forces. According to her, these factors influenced both the polling and counting processes.

The election results showed a clear victory for the BJP. The party secured 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, establishing a strong majority. In contrast, the TMC managed to win only 80 seats. The outcome marked a significant political shift in the state. Banerjee also faced a personal setback as she lost her election from Bhabanipur.

She further alleged that around 90 lakh names were removed during voter roll revisions. She claimed that this had a direct impact on the election results. Banerjee also accused central forces of intimidating voters and targeting TMC candidates and agents in several districts. These claims added to her argument that the election process was not conducted fairly.

Despite the defeat, Banerjee stressed that her party remains united. She announced the formation of a 15-member fact-finding committee to examine the alleged irregularities. The committee will look into complaints related to the election process and submit its findings. Banerjee said the party will continue its political struggle in the coming days. She stated, “The party is intact and we will keep fighting. We will bounce back.”

She also made a serious allegation about her personal safety. Banerjee claimed that she was physically attacked while trying to reach a counting centre during unrest. She said that the situation was tense and that the counting process was disrupted in several constituencies. These developments, according to her, raised further questions about the credibility of the election.

Calling the results day a “black day” in Bengal’s political history, Banerjee said that democratic processes were weakened. She warned that the space for opposition in the state could be at risk. Her comments suggested concerns about the future of political competition and democratic functioning in West Bengal.

Banerjee also highlighted support from leaders of the opposition alliance. She said that several leaders from the INDIA bloc had reached out to her after the results. These included Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, and Hemant Soren. She said their support reflects continued unity among opposition parties.

The overall message from Banerjee’s address was clear. She does not accept the election outcome and plans to challenge it politically. While the BJP has secured a decisive win, the TMC is preparing to continue its fight both within and outside the Assembly. The situation points to a tense political phase ahead in West Bengal.