Kolkata: TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday held a meeting with party leaders to deliberate upon the party’s lackluster performance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections and offered to step down as chief minister of West Bengal. Addressing a press meet, Banerjee said, “I told at the beginning of the meeting that I don't want to continue as the Chief Minister. Chair does not matter to me, party symbol does." The party rejected the offer and urged her to continue as chief minister.


The tally of the ruling party in the state came down from 34 to 22 in the Lok Sabha polls. The party has , however, managed to increase its vote share from 39 per cent in 2014 to 43 per cent this time. The BJP won 18 of total 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state and increased its vote share from 17 per cent in 2014 to 40.5 per cent this time.

Speaking to media persons, she lashed out at the BJP-ruled NDA government. “The central forces worked against us. An emergency situation was created. Hindu-Muslim division was done and votes were divided. We complained to the EC but nothing was looked into.”

“Even during the elections there were several violations. Money was transferred into banks...you can check that whose details will come out gradually,” she added.

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Of the 22 seats the TMC won, 16 constituencies witnessed a battle of nerves till the last round of counting with leads changing in minutes.

TMC insiders said the party virtually failed to counter BJP's nationalism narrative and Hindutva pitch, which resulted in the polarisation in the state, where Muslims constitute 27 per cent of the population.

Bengal, where the electoral discourse has largely steered clear of communal flairs after Independence, witnessed allegations of appeasement flying from both sides -- TMC and BJP -- resulting in the polarisation.

Compared to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Left vote share of 29 per cent dwindled to about 7 per cent, indicating a complete shift to the saffron side.

According to senior Left leaders, a huge section of Left voters, including party cadres, chose the BJP to defeat Banerjee in the state.

With assembly elections in two-year's time, municipal polls next year, the biggest challenge before the TMC is to keep its flock together as its top leadership is apprehensive of an exodus to BJP.

(With additional information from PTI)