Continuing Conflict in West Bengal

May 8, 2026

Following the announcement of the results of the assembly elections in five states, West Bengal is the most talked-about state. The 15-year-old government of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress party has been toppled in West Bengal. It was widely believed that Mamata Banerjee could not be defeated in her own homeland. For 15 years, she ruled as a people’s leader and was the preferred choice of voters across all walks of life. This time, the BJP committed itself to contesting the elections in West Bengal against Mamata Didi. When the results came in, a crushing defeat awaited Mamata and the TMC. The BJP, with a landslide victory, won over 200 seats, transforming history. Subsequently, the defeated parties, the TMC and Mamata Banerjee, raised numerous questions about the election process conducted by the Election Commission. Mamata Banerjee stated that she was defeated not by the BJP but by the Election Commission, so she would not resign. She also stated that this was not a mandate but a conspiracy. Banerjee stated her next goal was to strengthen the opposition alliance. The Constitution states that Mamata Banerjee’s announcement of not resigning is irrelevant, as the term of the assembly during which she was elected Chief Minister is set to expire in a day or two, and the post of Chief Minister ceases to exist. Suvendu Adhikari’s name is leading the race for the next Chief Minister. However, the opposition attributes the BJP’s victory to a thorough revision of voter lists and points to the fact that an average of 30,000 votes were cut per seat, and that 76 seats were won by even smaller margins. The BJP won 128 seats by less than 30,000 margins.We believe that a thorough revision of voter lists has also taken place in Kerala, where Congress won and is set to assume power with its alliance. No one has any complaints about the SIR there, but this is being voiced in West Bengal. It seems that the era of Mamata Didi has ended in Bengal, and the era of Suvendu is about to begin. We have deep faith in democracy and the electoral process and believe that the number of seats won by the victorious party demonstrates the overwhelming public mandate in their favor. Mamata Didi must now accept defeat and step back into the background. Yes, there is hope for a return to democracy.