Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she would not resign as West Bengal chief minister, asserting that she does not consider the poll outcome a legitimate defeat and would continue her political fight despite the setback.

Addressing an emotionally charged press conference in Kolkata after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) suffered its worst defeat in over a decade, Banerjee claimed that “100 seats were stolen” and termed the election a “murder of democracy”.

“We have not lost the elections,” she said, alleging that the contest was fought against an entire system where the Prime Minister and Home Minister were also involved. She added that her party was “fighting villains, not BJP.”

She further alleged that her vehicle was stopped en route and that she was manhandled by security personnel.

“I am now a commoner without any official post,” Banerjee said, adding that she had dedicated her life to public service and had neither drawn a pension nor salary.

Despite the electoral setback, she maintained that the TMC remained united and determined to continue its political struggle.

“The party is intact and we will keep fighting. We will bounce back,” she said.

The party has also decided to constitute a 15-member fact-finding committee comprising MPs and senior leaders to probe alleged irregularities and violence during the election process.

Calling the day of results a “black day” in Bengal’s history, Banerjee alleged that counting centres were compromised and that narratives were being controlled from Delhi, raising concerns over the future of democratic opposition.

She also said leaders from across the INDIA bloc including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and Hemant Soren had reached out to express support, underscoring that opposition unity would remain intact in the coming days.