West Bengal Governor RN Ravi dissolves Mamata cabinet; paves way for new BJP government formation

NEW DELHI: West Bengal Governor R N Ravi on Thursday dissolved the Mamata government cabinet along with the state Legislative Assembly ahead of the formation of a new government following the recently concluded Assembly elections.According to a government release issued from Lok Bhavan, Kolkata, the Governor exercised powers under sub-clause (b) of Clause (2) of Article 174 of the Constitution of India to dissolve the Assembly with effect from May 7.“The Order has come into force in accordance with the constitutional provisions contained under Article 174(2)(b) of the Constitution of India,” the release stated.

The dissolution comes after the BJP secured a landslide victory in the Assembly polls and is set to form its first government in the state.

BJP steps up preparations for government formation

The BJP has intensified preparations for the swearing-in ceremony. According to news agency ANI, party sources said Union home minister Amit Shah is expected to arrive in Kolkata later on Thursday.A meeting of newly-elected BJP MLAs is also likely to be held on Friday to elect the legislative party leader, sources said.The dissolution of the Assembly comes amid heightened political tensions in the state following the election outcome.

Mamata refuses to resign, alleges poll irregularities

Outgoing chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday addressed a meeting of newly-elected Trinamool Congress MLAs and said she would not resign from her post despite the election results.“I won’t resign. Let them dismiss me. I want this to be a black day. We have to be strong,” Banerjee said, according to party sources quoted by ANI.She alleged that Trinamool Congress candidates “were forcefully defeated” and claimed that over 1,500 party offices had been “hijacked”.“This was not an election but an atrocity,” Banerjee said, while also alleging bias by the Election Commission, CRPF and sections of the state machinery, as per ANI.She further claimed that the Trinamool Congress had “morally” defeated the BJP and asserted that the INDIA bloc had emerged more united after the Bengal poll results.Banerjee’s refusal to step down had created an unprecedented political situation and triggered concerns over a constitutional crisis in the state.