West Bengal Assembly dissolution: Governor R N Ravi ends term on May 7

Governor R N Ravi has dissolved the West Bengal State Legislative Assembly with effect from May 7 after the completion of its term, according to an official notification issued by the Department of Parliamentary Affairs. The move follows the recent election results and reflects the Governor’s powers under Article 174 of the Constitution.

An official notification said Governor R N Ravi dissolved the West Bengal State Legislative Assembly from May 7. The order followed the end of the House term. It also came after the recently completed two-phase elections. The notice marked the formal close of the outgoing assembly’s tenure.

The Department of Parliamentary Affairs issued the notification. With the House dissolved, the state cabinet also stopped existing. This ended Mamata Banerjees tenure as chief minister. The move followed standard constitutional procedure after an assembly’s term finishes.

West Bengal assembly dissolution and election outcome

The BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member West Bengal assembly. The result gave the party more than a two-thirds majority. The Trinamool Congress ended with 80 seats. This result ended the TMCs uninterrupted 15-year rule in the state.

The current assembly was formed in May 2021. The Trinamool Congress returned to power for a third straight term then. Mamata Banerjee led the party during that election. The May 7 dissolution now closes the term of that assembly.

West Bengal assembly dissolution and Mamata Banerjees response

However, deviating from practice, Banerjee has refused to resign after her party, the TMC, was defeated by the BJP in the assembly elections, alleging unfair means during the poll process. Banerjee has maintained that she and her party were defeated through manipulation.

West Bengal assembly dissolution and constitutional provisions

Article 174 of the Constitution empowers the Governor to summon the assembly under specific provisions. It also sets rules on sessions and prorogation. The same article covers dissolution of state legislatures. The May 7 order was issued under this constitutional framework.

The dissolution ended the legal life of the outgoing assembly. It also removed the council of ministers connected to that House. The election outcome and the notification together completed the change of government process. The state now moved ahead under the post-election constitutional arrangement.

With inputs from PTI