Efforts to form governments have accelerated in Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, and Puducherry following recent assembly elections, with victorious parties preparing for oath-taking ceremonies.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has stated that she will not resign from her position. Addressing newly-elected party MLAs, Banerjee declared the Central government could dismiss her, but she intends to continue her role. According to Trinamool Congress sources, Banerjee said that her party candidates “were forcefully defeated” in the polls and alleged over 1,500 Trinamool Congress offices “were hijacked.” She described the state’s electoral process as not an election but “an atrocity” and claimed that the Trinamool Congress had “morally” defeated the BJP.
Banerjee said, “After the Bengal INDIA team is united now. I won’t resign. Let them dismiss me. I want this to be a black day. We have to be strong. On the first day of the Assembly, wear black clothes. Those who betrayed will be removed from the party. I am laughing. I defeated them morally. I am a free bird. I worked for all. We might have lost but we will fight. HM and PM are directly involved.” She also alleged she was “heckled and pushed,” and condemned the West Bengal Police, CRPF, the Chief Electoral Officer, and the Election Commission of India for their roles during the polls.
In Tamil Nadu, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats out of 234, falling ten seats short of a majority. TVK leader Vijay is preparing to gain additional support and is unlikely to take oath on Thursday. Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar at Lok Bhavan as part of government formation efforts. With Vijay planning to relinquish one of the two seats he won, TVK’s effective strength will be 107. TVK has secured support from five Congress MLAs, although the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has declared it will not support TVK, with Deputy Coordinator KP Munusamy stating, “whatever the situation is, AIADMK will not support TVK.”
In Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) achieved a significant victory, winning 102 seats in the 140-member assembly. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee will hold its first Legislative Party meeting for newly elected MLAs on Thursday. Party leaders Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken have been appointed as observers to gauge MLA views.
In Assam, the oath-taking ceremony is anticipated for May 12, with BJP leaders JP Nadda and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini scheduled to attend. MLA Dilip Saikia stated that the BJP Legislative Party meeting will be held in Guwahati on May 10, followed by an NDA meeting with central observers. Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma has submitted his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. The BJP-led NDA secured a decisive majority and will form its third consecutive government in the state.
In West Bengal, BJP leaders including state President Samik Bhattacharya and General Secretary Sunil Bansal attended a critical meeting at Nabanna in Kolkata. The legislative party leader election is likely to take place on May 8, with the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for May 9. Bhattacharya said the ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other senior party leaders.
In Puducherry, AI NR Congress leader N Rangasami is set to serve another term as Chief Minister.
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