Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has refused to resign as West Bengal chief minister despite losing the assembly elections to the BJP. This has raised speculations regarding whether the Constitution allows her to remain CM in the coming days.
"Why should I resign? We have not lost. Votes have been looted. Where does the question of resignation arise?" said Mamata Banerjee, claiming that she was defeated by a conspiracy and not by a public mandate. She asserted that she will not got to Lok Bhavan as she has not lost the elections.
Alleging irregularities in counting and that nearly 100 seats were "looted", she said, "We were not fighting the BJP; we were fighting the Election Commission which was working for the BJP. I have never seen such an election in my entire political career."
However, legally and Constitutionally, Mamata can remain CM only till May 6 as the current government's tenure ends on Wednesday. She can continue as caretaker chief minister till the new government assumes charge. Even if she refuses to resign, Governor Rajendra Arlekar can dismiss the government.
BJP MLA-elect Suvendy Adhikari, who defeated the TMC supremo in Bhabanipur, slammed Mamata, saying he did not have much to say on the issue as everything is mentioned in the Constitution.
BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar alleged that Mamata Banerjee is trying to remain in the spotlight for a few more days and that she is free to approach the Supreme Court. "She is only making herself a laughing stock. She will anyway cease to be the chief minister after the expiry of her tenure," he said.
The BJP has won 207 seats in the 294-member assembly.