West Bengal Governor Dismisses Mamata Banerjee's Cabinet Amid Election Controversy

In a significant political upheaval, West Bengal's Governor R.N. Ravi has dismissed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's cabinet, marking the end of her tenure. This decision, made under Article 174(2) of the Indian Constitution, comes amid allegations of electoral misconduct by the BJP. With the BJP winning a majority in the assembly elections, the political landscape in West Bengal is set for a dramatic change. The dismissal follows Banerjee's refusal to resign and accusations of vote tampering. As the state prepares for a new government, the implications of this political shift are profound. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving situation.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 8, 2026, 16:06 IST

Governor's Decision to Dismiss the Cabinet

Kolkata: The Governor of West Bengal, R.N. Ravi, has officially dismissed the cabinet led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This action signifies that Banerjee is no longer the Chief Minister of the eastern state. According to a statement released by the Governor's office, this decision was made under Article 174(2) of the Indian Constitution. Ravi's notice stated that he is dissolving the West Bengal Assembly effective from May 7, 2026.

Reasons Behind the Dismissal

The dismissal comes after Mamata Banerjee firmly refused to resign and remained in her position. She accused the BJP of winning decisively in the state through vote rigging and tampering with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Banerjee claimed that the Election Commission colluded with the BJP to remove her from power, leading to an unethical victory for the party.

Removal of Model Code of Conduct

Prior to this, the Election Commission had lifted the Model Code of Conduct across West Bengal, except for the Falta Assembly seat, after the completion of the election process. Special election observers Subhrata Gupta and special police observer N.K. Mishra were relieved of their duties in the state.

BJP Set to Form Government in Bengal

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to form a government in West Bengal with a clear majority. In the 294-member assembly, the majority mark is 196, and the BJP has won 206 seats out of the 293 declared so far, significantly exceeding the majority requirement. The Trinamool Congress secured victory in 81 seats. Notably, Mamata Banerjee lost her seat in Bhawanipur to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari by over 15,000 votes. A re-poll for the Falta seat in South 24 Parganas will take place on May 21, with counting scheduled for May 24.

Counting of Assembly Seats

On May 4, counting was conducted for 293 out of the 294 assembly seats in West Bengal. The counting for the Falta seat was postponed due to significant complaints of electoral irregularities during the second phase of voting on April 29. In another significant development, former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, T.S. Shivgyaanam, resigned from his position as head of the appellate tribunal overseeing cases related to the removal of names from the voter list during the special review process. Justice Shivgyaanam was also leading a committee of three retired judges appointed by the Supreme Court to monitor the tribunal's operations. He cited personal reasons for his resignation.