06 May,2026 02:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sanjay Raut. File Pic
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday openly backed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's criticism of the Election Commission's role and BJP "looting" the democratic process saying her concerns about the polls deserved attention, as per ANI.
He said Banerjee's remarks about rigging and voter deletions were "true" and questioned the role of the Election Commission. Raut stated, "The Election Commission is the villain, and the villain won the election⦠She (TMC chief) says that 100 Assembly seats were rigged; this is true."
"It is also true that the names of lakhs of people were deleted. All these things that Mamata Banerjee said are true," Raut added, reported the agency.
Banerjee had earlier rejected demands for resignation after the BJP secured a large majority in West Bengal, winning 207 seats while the Trinamool Congress was reduced to 80.
She insisted she did not accept the result as a moral defeat and refused to step down or go to Raj Bhavan. She also labelled the Chief Election Commissioner the "villain" further accusing EC of bias and alleged irregularities in voting, including claims of tampering with EVMs and citing suspicious 80-90 per cent battery charges, reported ANI.
"I will not resign. I did not lose. We were defeated officially, but morally we won," she said.
"Mamata Didi says that she will not resign because she has achieved a moral victory. Mamata Didi has always been a movement, whether she is the Chief Minister, in power, or in the opposition. Even while being the Chief Minister, Mamata Didi has protested on the streets many times against the Central Government," Raut backed the former CM's decision, reported the news agency.
Raut said that leaders across the INDIA bloc had spoken to Mamata Banerjee to express support after the results.
He added that both Uddhav Thackeray and Rahul Gandhi had contacted her, reinforcing unity within the alliance.
"INDIA alliance is always with Mamata ji and will always be," he stated.
He also quoted Rahul Gandhi as saying that anyone celebrating her loss should not do so. "Rahul ji also said yesterday that if anyone is happy that Mamata didi lost, then do not express this happiness, this is the defeat of the country, of democracy," added Raut.
The election results marked a major shift in West Bengal politics, but the opposition's reaction suggests continuing political friction.
While the BJP celebrated a strong win, the TMC has maintained that the outcome does not reflect the true will of the people.
(With ANI Inputs)
