Mamata's 'won't resign' stance, TMC plans to challenge governor's move

KOLKATA, May 8: Trinamool Congress, the West Bengal election second-ranker, said on Friday it will challenge the decision by governor RN Ravi to dissolve the state assembly, a move which came days after party supremo said there is no question of her resigning as the chief minister.

TMC supremo said in a press conference a day after the counting of votes that she would not follow the convention of going to the governor to hand over her resignation as the state's chief minister despite the crushing defeat in the election against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

TMC leader Saugata Roy on Friday said the party would challenge the "undemocratic" step by issuing a rejoinder in the matter.

"Not a democratic step, our party will issue rejoinder in the matter shortly," TMC MP Saugata Roy told PTI news agency.

In the absence of her formal resignation, there was no opportunity for the governor to ask her to continue as the caretaker chief minister till her successor took oath.

"In exercise of the powers conferred upon the Governor under sub-clause (b) of clause 2 of Article 174 of the Constitution of India, RN Ravi Governor of West Bengal has issued an order dissolving the West Bengal Legislative Assembly with effect from May 7, 2026," a statement by the governor's office in Kolkata said, according to an earlier HT report.    �"HT