Mamata avoids 'former CM' tag; Adhikari updates profile as West Bengal CM
Synopsis
Mamata Banerjee updated her social media profiles on 9 May — but refused to call herself 'former Chief Minister', listing only her tenure years instead. The quiet defiance came as Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as West Bengal's new CM after the BJP's landslide 207-seat win, capping an unprecedented constitutional standoff in which Banerjee never formally resigned.
Key Takeaways
Mamata Banerjee updated her social media profiles on 9 May but avoided using the term 'former Chief Minister'.
Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as Chief Minister of West Bengal on 9 May and updated his profiles accordingly.
The BJP won 207 seats out of 294 in the West Bengal Assembly elections; TMC secured 80 seats .
Banerjee did not resign after the election loss — her tenure ended constitutionally on 7 May when Governor R.N.
Ravi dissolved the 17th West Bengal Assembly .
Adhikari defeated Banerjee in Bhabanipur by more than 15,000 votes .
Banerjee has alleged votes were "stolen" in over 100 constituencies and has vowed to pursue legal remedies.
Mamata Banerjee, the ousted West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo, updated her social media profiles on Saturday, 9 May — but conspicuously avoided labelling herself 'former Chief Minister'. The profile change came hours after Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of West Bengal.
What the Profiles Now Say
Banerjee's revised social media identity across Facebook, Instagram, and X now reads: 'Founding Chairperson of All India Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister of West Bengal (15th, 16th and 17th Legislative Assembly)'. The description references the duration of her tenure but stops short of using the word 'former'. Until Saturday morning, she had continued to describe herself as 'Honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal' on all three platforms.
Adhikari, by contrast, updated his profiles promptly after taking oath, with his designation now reading simply 'Chief Minister of West Bengal'.
The Constitutional Backdrop
The sequence of events leading to Saturday's profile changes was itself politically charged. The West Bengal Assembly elections held results on 4 May, with the BJP winning 207 seats out of 294 (polling was conducted in 293 constituencies). The TMC secured 80 seats. Despite the decisive verdict, Banerjee did not resign from the post of Chief Minister — a departure from established convention.
As per constitutional provisions, her government's tenure continued until 7 May, when West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi issued a notification dissolving the 17th West Bengal Assembly. With the dissolution, Banerjee formally ceased to hold office — not through resignation but through constitutional procedure. This created what observers described as an unprecedented situation in the state's political history.
Adhikari Defeats Banerjee in Bhabanipur
The personal dimension of the power shift was equally striking. Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency by a margin of more than 15,000 votes — a result that carried symbolic weight given that Bhabanipur has long been Banerjee's political stronghold.
Banerjee's Stance on the Election Outcome
From the outset, Banerjee alleged that votes had been
Point of View
She is keeping the door open for a narrative of continuity and grievance. The decision not to resign, and now the careful wording of a profile bio, suggest a leader calibrating her opposition identity rather than conceding defeat. Whether that posture translates into an effective legal or electoral challenge — or simply prolongs a denial that voters have already resolved — will define TMC's trajectory in the months ahead.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Mamata Banerjee change her social media profile on 9 May 2025?
Mamata Banerjee updated her social media profiles on 9 May after Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as West Bengal's new Chief Minister, making her tenure officially over. However, she avoided using the term 'former Chief Minister', instead listing the legislative assemblies during which she served.
What does Mamata Banerjee's updated social media bio say?
Her revised bio reads: 'Founding Chairperson of All India Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister of West Bengal (15th, 16th and 17th Legislative Assembly)'. It references the duration of her tenure without explicitly calling her a former Chief Minister.
Why did Mamata Banerjee not resign after losing the West Bengal elections?
Banerjee alleged that votes had been 'stolen' in more than 100 constituencies and refused to accept the BJP's victory, declining to resign as per convention. Her tenure ended constitutionally on 7 May when Governor R.N. Ravi dissolved the 17th West Bengal Assembly.
By how much did Suvendu Adhikari defeat Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur?
Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency by a margin of more than 15,000 votes. Bhabanipur has historically been Banerjee's political stronghold.
What were the West Bengal Assembly election results?
The BJP won 207 seats out of 294 in the West Bengal Assembly elections, with polling conducted in 293 constituencies. The Trinamool Congress secured 80 seats.
