Mamata Banerjee defiant, says 'will not resign': What happens now?

1 day ago

The West Bengal assembly election results have triggered a potential constitutional crisis as the outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has refused to resign despite a decisive defeat.

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12:20Banerjee. Of the 35 ministers in her cabinet, 22 have lost. And a number of them losing

12:28with a huge margin. So how should this be seen?

12:35Well, you know, I think, Barya, there's only one way to see this. Mamta Banerjee has not

12:39been able to digest the very fact that she has lost and lost an election this badly.

12:44So this is exactly the kind of statements that she's making is only speaking about the

12:50fact that she's not able to grasp the fact that this is the kind of massive majority

12:55that the Bharatiya Janata Party has caught. See, Barya, if the people had not voted for

12:59the Bharatiya Janata Party and these were the results, we would have seen people out on the

13:02streets. They would be speaking about the fact that this is not what they wanted. But all

13:06that we are seeing over the past 24 hours since the results came out, people are coming out

13:10on the streets and they are openly speaking about the fact that they desperately wanted

13:14the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the government. And that is exactly what's happening at the

13:18moment. But also, even if she does go to the court, the court will in turn, from what I

13:22am understanding, turn to the constitution of our country. The constitution very, very

13:26clearly says that the government cannot stay in power beyond five years. The elections have

13:31taken place. A clear picture has now emerged. She has no other option but to resign. And

13:36this is exactly what the Bharatiya Janata Party also believes in. Let me tell you,

13:39Nitin Nabeen, who is the BJP chief at the moment, he also is very keenly looking at what's taking

13:44place. We will see a reaction coming in from the Bharatiya Janata Party. But at the moment,

13:49this is Mamata Banerjee, who is now grasping at straws and saying that she will not be resigning,

13:54even though a clear mandate has emerged.

13:55You've made a very interesting point, Aishwarya, and I'll take that to Tappash, particularly with

14:01regards to the people of Bengal. We are not seeing any protests. They are not saying that they cast their

14:07vote

14:07for Mahmata Banerjee or TMC candidates and somebody else has won. Why is that? Why is there seems to be

14:15a

14:15disconnect between what the chief minister is saying and the people of Bengal here, Tappash?

14:22Well, see, Maria, I think it's a question of political survival. Mahmata Banerjee, who is a very,

14:29very tall figure in Indian politics, is now, it seems that she is in a kind of a state of

14:35mind that

14:35everything is disarray. She wasn't expecting this kind of a result, such a huge margin. It's a

14:41landslide, clear sweep by BJP is what the chief minister, ex-chief minister, Mahmata Banerjee,

14:46was not anticipating in the first place. Second of all, this kind of narrative that the chief

14:52minister has said today, that she is not going to resign because she has morally won, but she

14:58has been defeated and it's in connivance with the central government, the election commission,

15:05and other stakeholders, the central forces. It is something that the people are not buying at the

15:11moment. We haven't seen any protests or displeasure amongst common people right now across

15:16West Bengal. We haven't seen people coming out criticizing the way election happened. Everybody

15:21appreciated the way the election took place, violence-free, the free, fair election. And that's

15:27why we knew that there was immense anti-incumbency factor that was working against Trinamul Congress.

15:34And that's what reflected in the result. But now, as when she decided that she will not resign,

15:40she will not go to Lok Bhavan, it remains to be seen whether the governor of West Bengal exercises

15:45Article 164 of the Indian Constitution, by which a minister is appointed at the pleasure of the

15:53governor. Whether or not that is the only way out, if that happens, it is going to be very unfortunate

15:58for a tall leader like Mamata Banerjee. Because we have also been given to understand that the CEO

16:04have also sought time from the governor yesterday. And maybe today or tomorrow, he will personally go

16:11and visit the governor at the Lok Bhavan. And finally, when Mamata Banerjee have said today that she will

16:16not resign, she will not go to Lok Bhavan, then what next? Will the governor step in and exercise Article

16:23164?

16:24Because through Article 164, a minister is being appointed at the pleasure of the governor.

16:31If that happens, it's really going to be unfortunate. But Mamata Banerjee also

16:35given a clear narrative that it's 2029, and she is trying to be the fulcrum of the Indy alliance.

16:43And now decisions would be taken from Kolkata, the leaders would be visiting the Indy government,

16:48leaders would visit Kolkata. If that be the case, in that case, whether or not Rahul Gandhi's Congress

16:53will accept Mauta Banerjee as the face or a fulcrum of the Indy alliance is something that remains to be

16:58seen.

16:59But as of now...

16:59That's a long run. I mean, we are talking about today, Tapash.

17:03We are talking about today, Tapash. And a tall leader like Mamata Banerjee, who has been the

17:09chief minister for 15 long years, we are seeing these images where she is refusing to accept the

17:16people's mandate. How does it actually work, Indro, that, you know, leaders like Mamata Banerjee

17:22always get the pulse of the people. They are seen to be grounded leaders. They are seen to be mass

17:29leaders. They are mass leaders. She has fought tirelessly and has governed the state for 15 long

17:37years. So, you know, and what a brilliant street fighter she is. She put up a great fight. But she

17:43lost it. But for Mamata Banerjee to say that this is a moral victory and that she has not lost,

17:49how should this be read politically?

17:55Well, Maria, you know, very, very interesting development, actually. There is no precedent here

18:00in West Bengal for this. How does one read it? In my mind, the way I have seen Mamata Banerjee

18:07and the

18:08little that I understand of her and her politics, she remains defiant. There is a sense of denial,

18:14clearly, in her approach, this one. I was, I really wasn't expecting this. I did expect that

18:21she would hit out at the election commission. But I was expecting when I came here to cover the press

18:25conference. I thought perhaps there would be some sort of a reconciliatory tone where she would accept

18:31the mandate of the people. And then she would announce that I'm going to Raj Bhavan to tender

18:37my resignation. That is exactly what I was thinking of when I came to cover her press conference. But

18:42the tone, the tenor was completely different. I mean, it is a defiant tone. Yes, Mamata Banerjee

18:48is known for her streets fighting spirit, but it too has its limitations. And there is a threshold.

18:55This is a clear mandate. I mean, it's a landslide victory for the BJP. There's no way that she can

19:00claim whatever victory that is, be it moral or otherwise. I mean, and there is no resonance,

19:07Maria, by the way, I tell you, on the ground of what Mamata Banerjee is saying. I was expecting that

19:12there would be some amount of one-upmanship in order to, you know, keep the Carder's

19:18moral a little up. Because, as you know, given the surcharged political reality on the ground in

19:24West Bengal, and we've had four days of recess, there was pressure that was mounting, eager

19:29anticipation, and suddenly, boom, the results come out. So this is a lot to process. So what happens

19:35is, in various parts of West Bengal, we do see retribution. We do see, you know, party officers

19:41being vandalized and party workers, Trinamore workers being attacked. Though the BJP state

19:45president, Shamik Bhattacharya, has categorically stated that this culture will not be allowed.

19:50This is something that the BJP opposes. But no matter what political leaders say, I've seen it

19:55from my own experience, you know, local level workers are not always in the control of the

20:01top party leaders. And, Maria, you were here in Bengal, you covered this election, you've seen

20:05the rhetoric was very, very stark. And once you use such rhetoric from both sides,

20:11it does charge up things on the ground. So it's very important that the law enforcement agencies,

20:16the CRPF, which is here, and rightfully so, they take charge of things. But Mamata Banerjee could be

20:22trying to, you know, give a moral, vocal tonic to her supporters. But to claim that she has not

20:28lost this election is complete denial. Yes, I mean, that's perhaps taking it too far as well.

20:35So continue to be with us. Remember, it's a 2021 rerun, but perhaps bigger, sharper, and far more

20:42decisive for Shavindu Adhikari, who has gone on to defeat Mamata Banerjee again, and this time in

20:46Baba Anipur. The BJP has called it historic, crossing 200 seats, scripting a political earthquake

20:52in Bengal. But Mamata Banerjee has cried foul, alleging massive voter theft. With the opposition

20:58backing her claims, the verdict though is clear, but the battle is now over legitimacy.

21:40It's a 2021 rerun in 2026. But the

21:46of Mamata Banerjee has made it with far bigger stakes.

21:52And at the center of it, Subhindu Adhikari once again defeating Mamata Banerjee,

21:57this time in Baba Anipur. BJP calls it a decisive win.

22:28For the BJP, this is history scripted. On May 4th,

22:32the Lotus finally blooms in Bengal. Prime Minister Modi in a Bengali Dhotigurta

22:38calls it historic and unprecedented.

23:03BJP's chief strategist, Amit Shah, calls it a vote against a Nakhic rule. He is now the central observer,

23:10with May 9th likely date for the swearing-in.

23:15Subhindu Adhikari, we want to live from Nandigran. I said to Subhindu Adhikari,

23:25that no Nandigran will not go to Nandigran's house in Nandigran.

23:35A furious Mamata Banerjee hits back. Allegis loot, loot, loot,

23:40claims 100 seats were stolen, promises a comeback.

24:03And backing her, Rahul Gandhi alleges elections were stolen in Bengal,

24:09Anisam says he's seen this playbook before. Aap to back to Mamata alleging that BJP murdered

24:17democracy in Bengal.

24:19In the whole country, there is a very quiet place. The British people

24:25have been hijacked from the Jantantra. The Jantantra had been pulled from the Jantantra.

24:31The Jantantra was a little bit. We saw three or four months in the past three months

24:35of the Jantantra. But the numbers tell their own story. 22 out of 35 TMC ministers defeated.

24:4863 percent of cabinet wiped out, including the chief minister.

25:00BJP leaders admit even they did not expect this scale.

25:04The interests of the Jantantra in Bengal, crossing the 200 mark, a political earthquake in Bengel.

25:09This has been the full Jantantra.

25:15This has been the full Jantantra know.

25:16którąrich Mungal, a certificate of the Jantantra,

25:17was the place that visited Nandigran.

25:19The Jantra in Bengal is the joint of Bengel.

25:19And the civil Jantra in Bengal has been given the full Jantra.

25:21The Jantra, Narendra Modi, jantra.

25:26That is a great blessing for ourétel.

25:28The Jantra had been the best,

25:40And as the political dust settles, both the TMC and Congress are doubling down on charges

25:46of vote theft, questioning the role of election commission once again.

25:50The numbers may be in, but the narrative war is far from over.

25:55Because in Bengal, the fight has now shifted from the ballot box to the battle of legitimacy.

26:03With Ankita Garg, Bureau Report, India Today.

26:10Joining me now to understand what's happening in Bengal and what are the legalese around it

26:18is senior Supreme Court advocate, Mahesh Jait Malani.

26:22Mr. Jait Malani, appreciate your time.

26:25Mahmata Banerjee, the outgoing Chief Minister of Bengal, says that 100 seats have been stolen

26:32in this election, that the election commission is complicit, and hence she will not resign.

26:37I will not tender resignation.

26:39I have not lost.

26:41So I will not go to Raj Bhavan.

26:43Those are her words.

26:46Yeah, I mean, you know, this is beyond belief.

26:48For a Chief Minister, as you know, this is unparalleled, right?

26:52She refuses to recognize the mandate of the people, and that's probably absolutely descriptive

26:58of what somebody like Manta Banerjee would do, right?

27:02She's incredulous about her loss because she's surrounded herself only with sycophants

27:08and people who want to tell her what she wants to.

27:10And obviously she has a lot to hide.

27:13I mean, if you look at the kind of people who are supported, they are all people who are losers.

27:17And I think she is fearing that there's a lot of, you know, worms to crawl out of the woodwork

27:24after she leaves because I have no doubt that starting from her conduct in that IPAC issue, right,

27:32when she went and thwarted the cause of justice by snatching out files from people who had come

27:39legitimately to inquire into a scandal of her making, right?

27:45I have no doubt that there's much to hide, and this is all posturing.

27:49This is a mandate which is so unanimous and so, you know, it is such a huge mandate

27:56that it is impossible for anybody to question it.

27:59She should be given short shrift by the governor.

28:02I have no doubt that he'll do it.

28:03And she should be unceremoniously dismissed for challenging the entire electoral process,

28:09subverting the Constitution, and trying to make.

28:12Mamata Banerjee can't make a mockery of her entire electoral process,

28:18but of attempting to make it.

28:20She deserves the highest condemnation, the greatest censure,

28:24and the most extreme punishment that she can get in law.

28:29But Mr. Jit Milani, as a senior advocate of the Supreme Court,

28:33I'm looking at Article 164 of the Constitution.

28:36Article 164 of the Constitution actually says that what happens in such a scenario,

28:41governor's intervention is needed, the chief minister holds office during the pleasure

28:46of the governor, and if the chief minister loses the election,

28:49it implies they have lost the confidence of the people.

28:51And hence, the governor can dismiss the chief minister if they fail to resign voluntarily.

28:56So what are the options before the governor?

28:59Is this some kind of constitution crisis?

29:02It's not a constitution crisis, because the constitution prescribes what happens

29:06in a situation like this.

29:08When you have a recalcitrant chief minister who sticks like a lemming to her chair,

29:15she has to be unceremoniously dismissed.

29:18Pleasure or she holds office at the pleasure of the governor is one aspect.

29:23But the fact is that on the expiry of five years,

29:27the term of an existing legislature comes to an end by passage of time, by efflux of time.

29:35There is no legitimate legislature.

29:37Forget chief minister.

29:39She's only a chief minister, acting chief minister.

29:43She's no longer an elected chief minister.

29:45She has to go anyway.

29:46She can't cling on to that seat.

29:50Once an election is held, once five years expires,

29:54the tenure of the entire legislative assembly,

29:57including its chief minister, who's only a member of the legislative assembly,

30:01comes to an end.

30:02She's, I don't know, she doesn't seem to understand basic principles

30:06of how a constitution works or how parliamentary democracy works.

30:11Somebody should advise her.

30:13No, no, I'm trying to understand, because I'm sure she has enough and more advisors.

30:17You know, in that press conference, we saw, you know, Kalyan Banerjee also present.

30:22So she has a team of lawyers who can advise her.

30:27Kalyan Banerjee is a faithful foot soldier who's seen again the ground.

30:31I mean, he's a good friend of mine, but unfortunately, he's seen the ground

30:35and he's got it.

30:36He doesn't have the democratic spirit.

30:38I mean, these guys are arbitrary.

30:40They don't know what they're doing.

30:41I mean, this is unprecedented in any parliamentary democracy.

30:45I don't care.

30:45You can't say, I'm substituting my opinion for the real mandate.

30:49Go to court, file an election petition.

30:51You have your remedies.

30:52But you can't say, your officer chief minister is gone, not by virtue of the fact

30:57that you have been unceremoniously disgraced at the polls.

31:01Your officer chief minister comes to an end when five years expires.

31:06And if you don't respect that part of the Constitution, right, then you deserve to be kicked out

31:11by the governor.

31:13I'm glad she's taken the step because she will be unceremoniously kicked out by the governor.

31:18You know, Mr. Jit Milani, let's get into the, you know, there have been serious allegations

31:25against the Election Commission.

31:26It has come not just from Mahmoud Abanerjee, from Rahul Gandhi as well, both of them saying

31:31that there is some kind of action by the Election Commission, which these are seen as,

31:39to put, you know, to quote Mahmoud Abanerjee as, nasty games, that it is largely against.

31:44If you're going to pause it, let me interrupt you there.

31:47Let me finish, let me finish, sir.

31:49Largely against the opposition.

31:53And that's why Rahul Gandhi says that the Congress has lost states.

31:57You know, he has spoken about how there was vote chori in the state of Maharashtra,

32:03in the state of Haryana.

32:06I mean, you know, the last person you should be, you should be citing in support of Mamata

32:12Abanerjee is Rahul Gandhi himself.

32:15This seems to be now a sort of union of electoral losers getting together to try and give each

32:22other some kind of solace by casting stones at the Election Commission, right?

32:29Rahul Gandhi singularly lacks credibility as far as I'm concerned.

32:33If you tell me, I would ignore all his statements, because I think he's an unmitigated disaster

32:38for this country.

32:38And sometimes I question whether he has a mind or he doesn't.

32:41So he is the leader of opposition.

32:44Yes, he's also the leader.

32:45He's also the leader of the opposition who happened to say that Mamata Abanerjee is going

32:50to lose the election because she run such a corrupt regime.

32:54Now he blames it on the electoral process.

32:57Only a few days ago, he was attacking her viciously.

33:02He may be the leader of the opposition, but I'm afraid he's unfit to be a leader of the

33:06opposition.

33:08So, Mr. J. Milani, let's try and sum up this conversation.

33:12What can the governor do?

33:14And is this a huge crisis?

33:17I would say unprecedented.

33:18I've been covering politics for 20 years now.

33:21I haven't heard of any outgoing chief minister being so belligerent and defiant where she or

33:29he has refused to resign.

33:33Therefore, what I say is that it is unprecedented that someone should do it.

33:40But there's a very serious solution to somebody who dares to constitution a mandate.

33:46And at least you have to respect the mandate till it's set aside by a court.

33:52You're not willing to do that.

33:54It seems that you have something terrible.

33:56There's a lot happening in the state of West Bengal which deserves to be unearthed.

34:01Investigated and punished.

34:03Corruption is galore.

34:05And I've been saying this since 2021 because I was part of all those post-poled violence

34:09cases.

34:10Why post-poled violence cases?

34:11From 2020, I've been doing cases where BJP party workers have been killed in broad daylight

34:18in front of Tita Garh police station in 2020.

34:21I've been appalled by what's happening in Bengal for last night.

34:24And, you know, I'm appalled by what's been happening to the press in West Bengal.

34:29The most fascist state, the most intolerant state in the whole country against the press.

34:34And, you know, this can turn on and happen to, if this is the kind of president, the entire

34:39press beware.

34:40How many people have been hauled up and called by the police in West Bengal?

34:46There is no more fascist, intolerant, totalitarian state than that in West Bengal under the

34:52governance of Mamata Banerjee.

34:56And she has a lot to answer for.

34:58And I'm not surprised that the two biggest supporters are big electoral losers.

35:02Rahul Gandhi and now Arvind Kejriwal.

35:06A person is gone by the company they keep, Mariya.

35:10All right.

35:11Mr. Mahir Jitmalani, really appreciate your time.

35:13We needed to understand the legal option before the governor, what can happen in the state

35:19of Bengal.

35:20So, appreciate your time.

35:21Thank you for joining us.

35:23Thank you, Mariya.

35:23Thank you for having me.

35:25Thank you, sir.

35:26The battle shifts now from ballot to leadership.

35:29Who will be the Mukhe Mantri or the Chief Minister of Bengal?

35:33Well, circle May 9th on your calendar because sources are saying that that's the day on

35:38which the swearing-in ceremony is likely to happen and the formal transfer of power will

35:45happen.

35:45And that's going to be the big day for the BJP.

35:50This is the land of Shama Prasad Mukherjee, as we have been highlighting.

35:54Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been appointed as the central observer, the man who will oversee

36:00the crucial decision, who will, you know, be there on ground, ensuring that the legislature

36:08party meeting goes on smoothly.

36:11Because while the mandate is clear, the face of that mandate is not.

36:15Inside the BJP's intense deliberations are underway.

36:18Multiple power centers are there.

36:20Multiple calculations are happening.

36:22So, who are the five contenders?

36:26Take a look.

36:28First, it is Shuvendu Adhikari.

36:31He is the face of the BJP.

36:34Remember, he joined ahead of 2021 Assembly elections.

36:39He is seen as the man of Medanipur.

36:42I remember interviewing him in Nandi Gram.

36:44He defeated Mamata Banerji in 2021 in Nandi Gram with a margin of 1,956 votes, then went

36:53on to defeat Mamata Banerji again in Bhabanipur with far more margin of 15,000 votes.

37:00He is seen as a grassroots worker.

37:02Then there is Shamik Bhattacharya.

37:04Senior BJP leader.

37:05He is the BJP Bengal president at present.

37:10He is seen as the face of the Bhadralok.

37:12Then it is Dilip Ghosh, former BJP chief.

37:15He is seen as someone who expanded BJP's footprints in what was an unknown territory.

37:21Then there is Agni Mitra Paul, a prominent women leader and an MLA, seen as a rising face

37:27of the BJP.

37:28Then there is Rupa Ganguly.

37:30I interviewed her also in South 24 Parganas.

37:34She is an important leader here because Home Minister Amit Shah campaigned for her as well.

37:43former Rajasabha MP adds star power and cultural connect to the BJP.

37:51Let's go back to the reporters who are joining us.

37:55Tapash continues to be with us.

37:59And we have Aishwarya as well.

38:01So Aishwarya, I'm going to ask who is going to be the next chief minister of the BJP because

38:06we know how the party springs up a surprise.

38:09But what are you picking up in chatter with all the BJP leaders?

38:19Well, you know, one of the things, Maria, that the Bharati Janta party will be looking at

38:22is that the person needs to be strong because your opponent will be no other than Mamata

38:27Banerjee.

38:28And she's a street fighter.

38:29Everyone knows it.

38:30You know how she's risen to power, how she's maintained that power for 15 long years.

38:34So definitely she understands the workings of the state of West Bengal.

38:38She knows the state at the back of her hand.

38:41She's someone who understands the kind of struggle that Bengalis have had to do over

38:45the past many, many years.

38:46So someone who understands the state of West Bengal, someone with whom the people connect

38:51and someone who will fight, fight it out.

38:53Those are the qualities that the Bharati Janta party at the moment is looking at.

38:57And this is a massive victory that the people have given to them.

39:00They will also have to fulfill each and every promise, Maria, that has been made.

39:04See, the government has been speaking about the fact that in whichever state we see the

39:08double engine government, that means that the central government and the state government,

39:13both of them are of the Bharati Janta party.

39:15In that state, the development happens many.

39:19We have seen how the development actually takes place many folds.

39:22So those are the kind of promises that were being made.

39:253,000 rupees per month to the woman, 3,000 rupees per month to the youth.

39:29So they will also very keenly have to look at the state finances.

39:32How will they make sure that all these things are done and the state remains calm and peaceful?

39:37There is no untoward incident that takes place.

39:40All those things are things that the Bharati Janta party at the moment is looking at.

39:46Very, very keenly, someone who can look at all the aspects.

39:49These are the things that the BGP at the moment is looking in the man or even if I may

39:53say

39:53in a woman who will be able to handle a state like the state of West Bengal, Maria.

39:57Yes, but Aishwarya, we have got enough indications, one may say, from the BJP leadership who believes

40:04that Shuvendu Adhikari perhaps is the right man here for that top job.

40:10Before I bring in Tapash, let's try and do a SWOT analysis of the three contenders.

40:16We are looking at Shuvendu Adhikari, Shamik Bhattacharya and Dilip Ghosh.

40:19He is a two-time giant killer, is almost seen as a leader who understands Bengal's political

40:26landscape much better than most.

40:29He has grassroots connect, that's what works for him as well, and support in beyond Medanipur.

40:36He is, of course, the man of Medanipur, but then he has, I was told by sources close to

40:42him that almost he was in charge of 121 seats.

40:45He ensured that the BJP wins over 100 seats there.

40:49Weaknesses, there are certain corruption allegations against Shuvendu Adhikari.

40:53He is also seen as a strong polarizing figure.

40:58Opportunity here, I would say that because he is the face of Bengal's BJP in many ways.

41:05From 2021 onwards, after he became the leader of opposition, he has strong connect also with

41:11the central leadership, strong backing of the central leadership and also of the carder.

41:16Threat, though, is coming from within the party.

41:19There is an internal party rivalry.

41:21There are leaders within the BJP who are of the opinion that he is an outsider and hence

41:27he should not be given a chance.

41:29Then there is Shamik Bhattacharya.

41:30He is the state BJP chief.

41:33Shamik Bhattacharya has RSS connect, is seen as an acceptable Bhadralok face.

41:39Remember, the BJP swept the entire presidency region and he is seen as someone who managed

41:46to convince the upper caste and the intelligentsia of Bengal to look at the BJP favorably.

41:53His weakness, though, is that he doesn't really have that charisma to keep the party united.

41:58He is not seen as a mass leader.

42:01The opportunity could be that he could emerge as the consensus CM option.

42:06So, if there is factionalism within the state BJP, he could be that person.

42:12Although, the threat is that because he is overshadowed, could be overshadowed by bigger leaders.

42:21Then there is Dilip Ghosh, the former BJP chief.

42:25The strength is that he has strong grassroots connect, connects with the carders of the party

42:32as well.

42:33The weakness, though, is that he has made a number of controversial statements

42:38and is seen as politically inconsistent.

42:43Opportunity, I would say, is that he experienced face of the BJP

42:48and can control the narrative, will help the BJP control the narrative.

42:54May not have high command support.

42:57That is the bigger challenge for him.

43:02Now, let's try and understand, when we have done the analysis of these leaders,

43:06let's try and move on and go back to Tapash now.

43:09Tapash, you know, among the frontrunner is clearly Shubhendu Adhikari,

43:14who is marching ahead, much ahead of other leaders.

43:18The question is, for the BJP leadership to convince the MLAs,

43:23but it is Home Minister Amit Shah himself who is the observer.

43:27It's going to be easy.

43:31Well, yes, absolutely, because, see, Shubhendu Adhikari, as you rightly said,

43:36that is a giant killer, not once, but twice.

43:39Once from Nandigram, his home bastion, and secondly, a second time from Bhawanipur,

43:44Mahmata Banerjee's bastion.

43:45And we must also remember that his political schooling, to some extent,

43:50was under Mahmata Banerjee when Mahmata was protesting in Nandigram, in Shingur.

43:57So he knows, in order to, how to counter Mahmata Banerjee,

44:01because both of them practice a similar line of politics here in Bengal,

44:05and both the leaders, Mahmata Banerjee and Shubhendu Adhikari, are grassroot leaders.

44:11They know the nerve of the people.

44:12It's going to be an interesting contest between Shubhendu and Mahmata Banerjee.

44:16But the party has to be convinced. That's what everybody is talking about.

44:21But as I spoke to several leaders, they have said that BJP has the precedence and history

44:26of going out of the way and choose leaders to lead the straight.

44:31Whether or not it's Shubhendu Adhikari or Dilip Ghosh or Shamik Bhattachari or someone else,

44:36is ultimately going to be a decision when Home Minister Amit Shah lands here in Kolkata,

44:41meets all party members, especially the candidates who won this election.

44:46It will be decided only then that who is going to be the next Chief Minister of West Bengal.

44:52But until then, it seems that Shubhendu Adhikari seems to be way ahead

44:58than other leaders or other party comrades of Shubhendu in BJP.

45:04And since he's a mass leader, you don't find several mass leaders in Bengal BJP.

45:09He is a mass leader. He can reach out to people.

45:12People have good connect with Shubhendu Adhikari.

45:15And as I said, he works in the similar style of politics that Mahmata Banerjee practices.

45:20So when you have an opposition leader like Mahmata Banerjee,

45:24it is imperative to have someone who knows in and out of Trinamul Congress,

45:29the leaders or the opposition's acumen.

45:32So if that be one of the parameters, then who better than Shubhendu Adhikari.

45:37But again, it is up to the prerogative of the top leadership of the BJP.

45:40And it will only have a clear picture once Amit Shah reaches Kolkata

45:46or the leaders here in Kolkata goes to Delhi.

45:49And when Amit Shah meets with the party members

45:52and especially the elected candidates who won the election this time around,

45:57what the party wants, that will help the party leadership to take a close call.

46:04But until that happens, it seems that everybody is talking about Shubhendu Adhikari

46:08as a frontrunner, not the probable chief minister, if not,

46:12then at least a frontrunner and he is much way ahead

46:16in comparison to other senior leaders here in Bengal BJP.

46:20Absolutely. I think he has the total support also of the central leadership.

46:23Now it is only a matter of announcements, announcement, many would say.

46:28But let's wait for that moment.

46:29But yes, there has been a statement which has been issued

46:32by the chief electoral officer of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal.

46:37And he has said that he has spoken to the district election officer.

46:40The district election officer has said that such an incident did not happen.

46:44Also, if this incident had happened, a complaint or an FIR would have been filed,

46:49but neither was done.

46:51These are points that have been made.

46:53So to that specific charge, Indra, of Mamata Banerjee,

46:58here is the CEO of Bengal saying that the district election officer says

47:03that no such incident happened.

47:05So why wasn't an FIR filed?

47:08That's a natural question.

47:16Well, Maria, are you talking about, are you referring to the incidents

47:19that Mamata Banerjee has suggested that took place allegedly inside the counting centre?

47:26A statement which has come in from the West Bengal chief electoral officer

47:30who has said that I spoke to the district election officer,

47:34the district election officer has said that such an incident did not happen.

47:43Well, that's right.

47:44That's what I'm saying.

47:45Referring to the allegations that have been leveled by Mamata Banerjee,

47:48of course, the election commission now clarifying its position.

47:50So, as I said earlier, Mamata Banerjee hardening her stance.

47:55This is with a clear intention of giving a political message,

48:00I believe, to her party workers who are, in a sense, on their back foot right now

48:07after the election results.

48:09She's trying to give a morale boost to her party workers to stay their ground

48:15because a lot of them are facing the flag on ground.

48:18She has also alleged political violence, post-pol violence.

48:22So, in that sense, this is hardening of posture by Mamata Banerjee

48:27with a clear focus on the politics on the ground

48:31because the mandate clearly is against her

48:33and therefore there's nothing much that she can do about it.

48:37In fact, Kalyan Banerjee, a veteran tribal congress leader,

48:40he came out from Mamata Banerjee's residence a short while back

48:43and spoke to us and he said that it's fine if she doesn't resign

48:47because she does not have to, as per law,

48:49the governor will, in any case, after the dissolution of the assembly,

48:53will call the largest party and they will be sworn in.

48:57So, there is no requirement for her to resign.

49:00You know, Indra, but we expect senior leaders

49:02to continue with the tradition that we have seen

49:05and that's what was perhaps expected of a veteran politician

49:10like Mamata Banerjee as well.

49:11So, thank you, Indra.

49:12Thank you, Tapash and Aishwarya for joining us.

49:15Remember, it was largely seen or calculated

49:20that women of Bengal were standing with a woman chief minister.

49:23What turned out was completely opposite.

49:26Women's anger snowballed into a political storm.

49:30Voters who once stood firmly with Didi pulled back their support this time

49:34from BJP's Ratna Debnath to Rekha Patra.

49:38That anger translated into electoral victories.

49:41Take a look at this report.

49:52Nari Akrosh, a silent undercurrent that turned into a political storm,

49:57reshaping Bengal's verdict.

50:01For years, women voters formed the backbone of the TMC,

50:06standing firmly with Mamata Banerjee through every electoral test.

50:10But this time, that trust appears to have cracked.

50:14At the heart of this shift, two explosive flashpoints.

50:19The horror at Arjikor Medical College and Hospital,

50:23where a young doctor was raped and murdered,

50:26sparking nationwide outrage and raising serious questions

50:29over the handling of the probe.

50:35And the unrest in Sandeshkhali, where women alleged years of abuse,

50:40land grab and intimidation by local strongman,

50:43Sheikh Shah Jahan, who was linked to the TMC.

50:49What followed was more than protest.

50:51It was political transformation.

50:55From grief to the ballot box,

50:58Arjikor victim's mother, Ratna Debnath, fielded by the BJP,

51:02turned personal loss into a powerful mandate,

51:05winning Panihati by over 28,000 votes.

51:09The wildfire was at the same time.

51:14The wildfire was at the same time,

51:19because of the wildfire is a

51:22man from the spirit.

51:24I've been born to the fire.

51:25I've been born to the spirit of a man from Magali.

51:33But there are many people who have said that they have given the answer to all the Bangla, so they

51:43have given the answer to all the people who have come to us."

51:47Sandesh Khali sexual abuse survivor Rekha Patra carried the voices of Sandesh Khali into the Assembly and won Hingalganj by

51:55over 5,000 votes.

51:57The list does not end here.

51:59Grassroots candidates like Kalita Majhi, a domestic worker secured Osgram by more than 12,000 votes, and Chandana Bauri, a

52:08migrant labourer won Saltora by over 32,000 votes.

52:13S-Yukh Bauri is at the end of the day after the death penalty.

52:21It started to be blocked byότεhr and tested for two to five days before the death penalty that is red.

52:45The message is unmistakable.

52:48This election wasn't just about politics.

52:51It was about safety, justice and accountability.

52:55And when those questions remained unanswered,

52:58Bengal's women delivered the loudest answer through their vote.

53:05EuroReport, India Today.

Mamata Banerjee defiant, says 'will not resign': What happens now?

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