In a high-stakes meeting of the elected Trinamool Congress MLAs at her Kalighat home, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee declared her intent to challenge the 2026 West Bengal poll mandate in the Supreme Court, sources close to the development told India Today.
She also levelled serious allegations of electoral irregularities against the BJP, which secured a thumping 200+ majority in the state and the Election Commission of India.
Announcing her shift towards legal activism, Banerjee further mentioned that she and the outgoing Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Chandrima Bhattacharya, who lost this year’s election, would resume their legal practice in courts challenging the poll mandate. Banerjee also asserted that despite a setback in the local polls, her eyes remain firm on consolidating the opposition India alliance in Delhi, something she mentioned in her press conference a day before.
WON’T RESIGN: MAMATA DOUBLES DOWN
The outgoing Chief Minister took a firm stand against resigning, framing her decision to stay in office as a deliberate act of protest against what she described as a forcefully stolen mandate. She mentioned the same in her press conference, held a day ago.
The sentiment was echoed by Abhishek Banerjee, who considered holding designations as a valid protest against the allegedly rigged Bengal mandate. He urged party leaders not to step down from their previous designations. The Diamond Harbour MP also told ANI that the party would seek legal help against the ongoing post-poll violence.
After the meeting, Mamata Banerjee also said that the Centre is free to impose President’s Rule if they wish, provided it goes on the official record.
RABINDRA SANGEET TO BE PLAYED IN TMC PARTY OFFICES ON MAY 9
Mamata also urged TMC leaders to play Rabindra sangeet (Tagore songs) on May 9, when the swearing-in ceremony will be held in Kolkata Brigade Parade.
She also strictly instructed all the winning candidates to remain in their respective constituencies and connect with the grassroots.
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