Browsing: West Bengal

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.

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.

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.

In a major pre-election crackdown, security forces across West Bengal have arrested over 1,500 individuals ahead of the final phase of the Assembly elections, aiming to ensure a peaceful and fair voting process. The large-scale operation was carried out jointly by state police and central forces, reflecting heightened concerns over law and order in the concluding stage of polling.