CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal hands over list of elected MLAs to Governor at Lok Bhavan

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal met Governor R. N. Ravi at Lok Bhavan on Wednesday and formally submitted the gazette notification containing the list of winning candidates in the Assembly elections. Senior officials of the Election Commission of India were also present during the meeting. The submission of the notification took place ahead of the formation of the new government in the state as the term of the current West Bengal Legislative Assembly is scheduled to expire on May 7.

Election Commission officials handed over the official documents listing the newly elected MLAs and the constituencies from which they were elected as part of the constitutional process following the completion of the elections. According to sources at Lok Bhavan, the CEO also briefed the Governor on election-related developments and post-poll incidents reported from various parts of the state after the declaration of results. The Governor reportedly sought information regarding allegations of violence that emerged following the election outcome.

The West Bengal Assembly elections were conducted in two phases this year. Polling for 152 seats across 16 districts took place on April 23, while voting for the remaining 142 seats in seven districts was held on April 29. The Election Commission later ordered re-polling in the Falta Assembly constituency. Results for 293 constituencies, excluding Falta, were declared on May 4. The BJP secured 207 seats, while the Trinamool Congress won 80 seats.

According to constitutional procedure, the Governor invites the leader of the majority party or alliance to form the government after the completion of election formalities. In cases where no party secures a majority, the Governor may ask the single largest party or alliance to prove majority support on the floor of the Assembly within a specified period. The BJP has secured an absolute majority in the Assembly, although the party has not yet announced its choice for Chief Minister.

Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has stated that she will not resign, alleging that the election was manipulated and that votes were looted to defeat her party. CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal rejected the allegations raised against the Election Commission. The meeting between the CEO and the Governor also took place amid administrative developments following the appointment of R. N. Ravi as Governor of West Bengal after the resignation of C. V. Ananda Bose earlier this year.