West Bengal Governor RN Ravi dissolved the state Legislative Assembly on Thursday, marking a significant constitutional development following the recent assembly elections, while the decision comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a clear majority in the polls. Despite the mandate, Mamata Banerjee refused to resign from the Chief Minister's post, alleging 'vote theft' during the election process. In light of these events and following the completion of the 2026 election cycle, Governor RN Ravi exercised his constitutional authority to dissolve the house.
Constitutional Mandate and Official Notification
Utilizing the powers conferred under Article 174, Clause (2), Sub-clause (b) of the Constitution of India, the Governor ordered the dissolution of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. /1L-03/2026) published on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. According to the directive issued by the state's Parliamentary Affairs Department, the current assembly will stand formally dissolved effective from May 7, 2026.
Administrative Action and Transition to the 18th Assembly
The order, signed by Governor RN Ravi, was published in the public interest by the State Chief Secretary, Dushyanta Nariala (IAS). It's a standard constitutional practice to dissolve the outgoing assembly before a new government assumes office. This order effectively terminates the term of the 17th Assembly and clears the path for the formation of the 18th Legislative Assembly with newly elected representatives. The process for the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet and the summoning of the first session of the new assembly is expected to commence shortly.
Electoral Results and Mamata Banerjee's Stance
In the West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP achieved a landmark victory by winning 207 out of the 293 contested seats, paving the way for the first-ever BJP government in the state. This defeat marks the end of Mamata Banerjee's 15-year tenure. Following the results, Banerjee alleged vote tampering in approximately 100 seats, maintaining that she was forcibly defeated rather than losing fairly. Her refusal to step down prompted the Governor's decision to dissolve the assembly, thereby concluding her term as Chief Minister.
BJP's Roadmap for Government Formation
Meanwhile, the BJP has initiated the process of forming the new government. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on Thursday night, while a meeting of the newly elected BJP MLAs will take place on Friday to elect the leader of the legislative party. Subsequently, the swearing-in ceremony for the new Chief Minister is slated to be held on May 9 at the Brigade Ground in Kolkata.