The West Bengal Legislative Assembly has been dissolved on the orders of Governor R.N. Ravi following the conclusion of the 2026 Assembly election process, even as outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has not formally resigned from her post.
The development comes days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a decisive victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, winning more than the majority mark in the 294-member House. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee, suffered a major setback after remaining in power in the state since 2011.
According to constitutional experts, the tenure of the 17th West Bengal Assembly ended on May 7, following which the Assembly stood dissolved, paving the way for the formation of a new House. The Election Commission has already submitted the list of elected MLAs to the Governor.
However, political uncertainty has continued after Mamata Banerjee publicly stated that she would not resign as Chief Minister, alleging irregularities in the election process and claiming that the mandate did not reflect the actual public verdict.
Governor R.N. Ravi is now expected to initiate the process of inviting the BJP legislature party leader to form the next government in the state. Reports have indicated that legal consultations are underway regarding administrative arrangements during the transition period before the swearing-in of the new government.
Constitutional experts have said that under normal parliamentary procedure, an outgoing Chief Minister is expected to resign after losing majority support in the Assembly. They added that the Governor has the authority to ensure the formation of a government that enjoys majority support in the House.
The BJP has accused Mamata Banerjee of creating a constitutional deadlock by refusing to step down, while the TMC has maintained that it will continue to challenge the election outcome politically and legally.
The new government in West Bengal is expected to be sworn from Brigade Ground on May 9.
