Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused to resign from office on May 5, a day after her party lost the state Assembly elections to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). At a press conference in Kolkata, she alleged the election results were the product of a 'conspiracy' and not a genuine reflection of the people's will, accusing the BJP of misusing central paramilitary forces to seize polling stations and manipulate the outcome.

The TMC has announced plans to legally challenge the election results, though specific details of the petition or timeline were not disclosed. The Election Commission of India has not issued any statement regarding the allegations. Constitutional experts note that under Article 164(1), the Governor appoints the Chief Minister and can withdraw confidence, but in practice, the convention requires a CM to resign when their party loses a majority unless they seek a floor test.

Governor C.V. Ananda Bose is expected to invite the BJP to form the new government, pending confirmation of results and claims. The Chief Minister's refusal to vacate the office sets up a potential constitutional confrontation. The Governor's office has not commented, but legal precedent suggests a floor test may be called to determine majority support. The Election Commission is expected to finalize the results within 48 hours.