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Mamata Banerjee: 'Fought like tigers, will bounce back' after Bengal election defeat
Mamata Banerjee ruled out resigning after the Bengal assembly poll defeat, attributing it to a conspiracy rather than a public mandate. She pledged that the TMC will bounce back, signalled action against the Election Commission, and cited support from INDIA bloc leaders.
Why It Matters
The remarks shape the post-election narrative in West Bengal, indicating the TMC's stance toward the EC and the INDIA bloc, and signaling potential political recalibration in the state and national opposition space.
Timeline
1 Event
Mamata Banerjee refuses to resign, blames conspiracy for Bengal poll defeat
May 5, 2026
Mamata Banerjee stated there is no question of her resigning, asserting that the assembly poll defeat was due to a conspiracy rather than a public mandate. She said the party fought like tigers and will bounce back, while expressing concern over what she described as direct interference by the government. Banerjee indicated the TMC would take action against the Election Commission, though she did not specify what form that action would take. She added that some party workers were joining the BJP for their safety and she did not mind if that happened. Banerjee thanked INDIA bloc leaders for their support, noting that Akhilesh Yadav would meet her tomorrow. She cautioned that power is not permanent and recalled witnessing governments led by Rajiv Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Manmohan Singh, while calling certain recent events atrocities.