Kolkata

West Bengal Governor RN Ravi on Thursday dissolved the state Legislative Assembly ahead of the formation of a new government in the state.

An official order issued by the Governor stated that the Assembly stood dissolved with effect from May 7.

The development comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party secured a sweeping majority in the Assembly elections and began preparations to form its first-ever government in West Bengal.

According to BJP sources, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to arrive in Kolkata later in the day. A meeting of newly elected BJP MLAs is also likely to be held on Friday to choose the party’s legislative leader.

Meanwhile, outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reiterated her refusal to resign following the election results. Addressing a meeting of newly elected MLAs from the All India Trinamool Congress on Wednesday, Banerjee reportedly said that the Centre could dismiss her if it wished.

Party sources said Banerjee alleged that several Trinamool candidates had been “forcefully defeated” and claimed that over 1,500 party offices had been taken over after the polls. She also maintained that the INDIA bloc had become more united following the election outcome.

Banerjee described the election process as an “atrocity” rather than a democratic exercise and asserted that the Trinamool Congress had achieved a “moral victory” despite the results. She reportedly urged party members to remain strong and continue the political fight.

According to party sources, she also alleged that she had been heckled and pushed during the post-election developments and criticised the state police, CRPF, the Chief Electoral Officer, and the Election Commission, accusing them of bias.

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Her decision not to step down despite the electoral defeat had triggered an unprecedented political situation in the state and raised concerns over a constitutional impasse.