Mamata Banerjee Urges Opposition Unity Against BJP After Bengal Election Defeat

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has called for the formation of a united opposition platform against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following her party’s crushing defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Addressing supporters at a gathering near her residence in Kolkata’s Kalighat area on Saturday, Banerjee urged political parties, student organisations and civil society groups opposed to the BJP to come together both in West Bengal and at the national level.

“A reign of terror has begun. In such a scenario, I urge all opposition parties in Bengal, student organisations and NGOs to unite against the BJP. A united platform should be created where all parties opposed to the BJP can come together,” Banerjee said.

The TMC chief also extended an appeal to Left parties and other opposition groups, saying discussions could be held to build a broader anti-BJP alliance.

Her remarks came as the BJP formed the government in West Bengal after securing a sweeping victory in the Assembly elections, winning 207 seats in the 294-member House. The TMC managed to secure 80 seats.

Banerjee indicated that her party was preparing for a legal challenge against the election outcome. She said senior lawyers including Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Prashant Bhushan and Menaka Guruswamy were part of the legal strategy.

“Don’t worry. We’ll fight this battle. We know how to fight,” she asserted.

The former Chief Minister also alleged that several facilities available to her as CM, including cellular services, had been withdrawn after the election results.

Banerjee claimed that top opposition leaders across the country had reached out to her following the results. She said she had spoken to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, along with leaders such as Uddhav Thackeray, Tejashwi Yadav, Hemant Soren, Akhilesh Yadav and Arvind Kejriwal.

Earlier, Banerjee had refused to step down from the Chief Minister’s post immediately after the results, alleging that the BJP, Election Commission of India and central forces had influenced the counting process.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders dismissed her allegations and criticism. BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar said the party was focused on governance and development rather than responding to opposition accusations.

The political atmosphere in West Bengal remains tense as the BJP begins its first full-fledged government in the State, ending the TMC’s long rule.