A major political storm unfolded in West Bengal after Governor R. N. Ravi officially dissolved the state Legislative Assembly following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s refusal to resign after her party’s election defeat.
The term of the West Bengal Assembly officially ended at midnight on May 7. Soon after, Raj Bhavan released a formal notification confirming the dissolution of the Assembly under Article 174(2)(b) of the Constitution.
The official communication stated that the West Bengal Legislative Assembly stood dissolved with effect from May 7, 2026.
The development came after Mamata Banerjee publicly refused to step down despite the defeat of her party, the All India Trinamool Congress, in the recently concluded Assembly elections. She alleged that the mandate in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party was the result of “loot” and claimed there were serious irregularities in the election process.
Her refusal to resign triggered a huge constitutional and political debate across the country. BJP leaders demanded immediate action and argued that she should not continue even in a caretaker role.
Under Article 172 of the Constitution, a state assembly automatically dissolves after completing its five-year term. Usually, the outgoing government continues in a caretaker capacity until a new government is sworn in. However, Mamata Banerjee’s stand created confusion about her constitutional position after the election defeat.
Political experts believe there is no constitutional provision that allows a defeated chief minister to continue indefinitely once the assembly has been dissolved and a new majority has emerged.
According to election trends and reports, the BJP secured a huge victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, marking a historic breakthrough in the state.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress is expected to challenge the election results legally, which could lead to a prolonged courtroom battle in the coming weeks.