Bengal Governor RN Ravi has dissolved the assembly, officially putting an end to the Trinamool Congress government in the eastern state. This means Mamata Banerjee, who has been hell-bent on not resigning, is no longer the Chief Minister.
The governor used the constitutional powers vested in him under Article 174 (2)(b) of the Constitution of India. "I hereby dissolve the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal with effect from 7th May, 2026," RN Ravi said in the official notice.
The 71-year-old Banerjee had been defiant and held onto her CM's chair, alleging the BJP's decisive debut in the eastern state was a result of looting of votes and EVM tampering. She claimed the Election Commission colluded with the saffron side to dethrone her side and that the latter won "immorally".
The Bengal government's term ended yesterday. Now, until the new Chief Minister is sworn in, the governor is supposed to take interim charge of the state, former Government of India Secretary, Jawhar Sircar said.
The state has been rife with drama and controversies since the poll results were announced. The Trinamool Congress claimed that votes were looted in 100 seats across the state where their candidates were leading from the beginning of the counting. Hundreds of central forces were deployed in the state to ensure peaceful polling. Even so, post-poll violence broke out in several regions of the state. More than five people have been killed so far, including BJP CM frontrunner Suvendu Adhikari's aide Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead in point-blank range in Madhyamgram.
