Union minister questions refusal to accept mandate, says institutions risk being undermined
West Bengal: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that democratic principles in the state were under strain and that the electoral verdict was not being respected in spirit.
In a post on X, Pradhan argued that the situation in Bengal reflected a deeper concern, stating that democracy was effectively being “held at gunpoint.” He suggested that the mandate of the people was being treated not as a binding decision, but as something that could be questioned or set aside. “The refusal to accept the spirit of the mandate raises a serious question about whether power is being seen as a duty or merely an entitlement,” he said.
He further claimed that the response from the ruling All India Trinamool Congress signalled an unwillingness to face accountability. According to him, attempts to retain control were also affecting public trust in key institutions.
Pradhan alleged that in the process of holding on to power, there were efforts to weaken the credibility of bodies such as the Election Commission of India and even security agencies, which play a central role in ensuring free and fair elections.
The remarks come amid an ongoing political confrontation in Bengal following the recent election outcome, with both sides trading allegations over the legitimacy and interpretation of the mandate.
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