FROM PAGE 1

political milestone, with the party now controlling almost all states in eastern India.

The TMC tally fell to 80 seats from 215, with Mamata herself losing her seat.

Mamata alleged that about 100 seats were “forcibly taken” from her party and accused the Election Commission of bias, but did not provide evidence.

“I will not resign, I did not lose... officially, through the Election Commission, they [the BJP] can defeat us, but morally, we won the election,” she told a news briefing.

West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal termed the allegations “baseless”.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated Mamata in her Bhabanipur stronghold, said his party was moving towards forming a government, outlining a governance agenda centred on development, administrative stability, and restoration of law and order.

Under the Constitution, the state’s governor can seek Mamata’s resignation or wait for her term to expire, after which newly elected lawmakers will be sworn in, and the process of forming a new government will begin.

Mamata’s term is set to end on Thursday.

A defeated candidate in an Indian state election can challenge the result in court on grounds including corrupt practices, improper acceptance or rejection of nominations or votes, candidate disqualification, or non-compliance with election laws affecting the outcome.

Mamata did not say whether she would go to court.

Meanwhile, the standoff has raised concerns over public safety and social cohesion. Although there are no confirmed reports of large-scale communal violence, localised tensions, uncertainty, and sporadic clashes have created a fragile atmosphere in some areas.

Regions such as Murshidabad, parts of North Bengal, and several districts in South Bengal have also witnessed confrontations linked to victory processions, along with reports of party office takeovers and targeted intimidation.

Modi yesterday called for restraint and adherence to democratic norms, emphasising the need to maintain peace in the post-election period.

Some media reported that Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit the state soon to assess the situation.