Rajya Sabha member Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday, 8 May said it does not matter whether All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee resigns or not, as the new Chief Minister of West Bengal is set to take oath on Saturday, 9 May. His remarks came amid Banerjee's public refusal to vacate office despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s landslide victory in the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026.

What Shringla Said

Speaking to reporters, Shringla stated, "It holds no significance because the government's term has come to an end. It has automatically expired, and according to the Constitution, she will no longer remain the Chief Minister." He further said, "The swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister and the oath-taking process will take place tomorrow. A new government will begin functioning from then onwards. Whether you resign or not, does not matter now."

Shringla also appealed to Banerjee to step down with dignity, adding, "However, after losing by such a huge margin in the state, we hope that you resign with dignity and leave the post gracefully."

Constitutional Position and Political Precedent

Governor R.N. Ravi announced the dissolution of the West Bengal state Legislative Assembly on Thursday evening, which automatically brought the previous state Cabinet led by Banerjee to an end, making her officially a "former Chief Minister" of the state. Shringla questioned the political precedent set by Banerjee's stance, saying, "Has anyone in the history of the country ever said that they would not leave office after losing power? Be it Congress, BJP, or any other party, whoever lost resigned from the post of Chief Minister or Prime Minister. In Kerala, too, leaders resigned immediately after defeat. Then why continue to cling to power? There is no such political culture in the country."

Banerjee's Refusal to Resign

At a press conference on 5 May — the day after the West Bengal Assembly Election results — Banerjee clearly stated she would not submit her resignation to the Governor, arguing that the official results did not reflect the actual public mandate. She did not accept the TMC's defeat across the state, nor her personal defeat at the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, where she lost to Suvendu Adhikari — then the outgoing Leader of Opposition — by over 15,000 votes.

Notably, Banerjee continues to retain the title "Chief Minister of West Bengal" on her official social media handles on both X and Facebook, with her profiles describing her as "Founder Chairperson All India Trinamool Congress. Honourable Chief Minister, West Bengal." This is despite the Governor's formal dissolution of the Assembly ending her constitutional authority.

New Government and What Comes Next

Shringla, who is from North Bengal, expressed personal pride at the occasion, saying, "Development-oriented and people-centric policies will begin to take shape from tomorrow itself, which is a matter of great happiness. I am also from North Bengal, and I feel honoured to be present at this historic moment." The swearing-in ceremony on 9 May will formally end the 15-year TMC regime in West Bengal and mark the beginning of the BJP's first government in the state. All eyes will now be on whether Banerjee formally acknowledges the transition or continues to contest the electoral outcome.