The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has faced a significant political setback in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, as visible cracks emerged in its long-standing Muslim support base, reshaping the state’s electoral landscape. For over a decade, Muslim voters,who constitute nearly a third of the state’s population, had largely remained consolidated behind the TMC, playing a decisive role in its repeated electoral successes.
In the wake of the 2026 Assembly election results, security arrangements outside key residences and offices linked to the Trinamool Congress leadership have been significantly eased across West Bengal. The move follows the party’s electoral defeat, marking a visible shift in administrative priorities and political authority.
In a defiant stand following the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) significant setback in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has categorically rejected calls for her resignation. Addressing a packed press conference at her Kalighat residence on Tuesday, a resilient Banerjee declared that she would not step down, claiming a “moral victory” despite the electoral numbers favoring the BJP.
West Bengal Advocate General Kishore Datta tendered his resignation to Governor R.N. Ravi on Tuesday morning, May 5, 2026, following the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) historic defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections.
Mamata Banerjee has stunned the political world by refusing to resign after the 2026 Bengal elections. Despite the BJP winning a two-thirds majority and Banerjee losing her own seat, she has alleged massive EVM tampering and a conspiracy by the Election Commission, vowing to fight on from a national stage.
High-voltage drama unfolded in Kolkata on the night of April 30 and early May 1, 2026, as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally inspected the EVM strong room at Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhabanipur. Citing “suspicious activity” seen on CCTV, the TMC supremo warned of a “life-and-death battle” if any attempt is made to tamper with the machines before the May 4 counting date. While the Election Commission dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” clarifying that officials were merely segregating postal ballots in the presence of observers, the visit has intensified the prestige battle in Bhabanipur, where Banerjee faces a fierce challenge from BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.
West Bengal has created electoral history in the 2026 Assembly elections by recording an unprecedented voter turnout of nearly 92.9%, the highest since Independence. The remarkable participation highlights a surge in democratic engagement and reflects the intensity of the political contest across the state.
The Calcutta High Court recently reprimanded the West Bengal government for failing to comply with a high-stakes security mandate, noting that only 8 kilometres of land has been handed over to the [Border Security Force](BSF) since January 2026.
In a significant administrative move during the peak of the state’s electoral process, the Central Government has granted a six-month service extension to West Bengal’s Director General of Police (DGP), Siddh Nath Gupta. The 1992-batch IPS officer, who was originally slated to retire on April 30, 2026, will now continue to lead the state’s police force until the end of October.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that central armed police forces will remain deployed in West Bengal for 60 days after the elections, aiming to ensure peace and prevent post-poll violence.
