It's trivialising Constitution: Harish Salve on Mamata blaming poll panel for defeat

In an exclusive interview with India Today, legal expert Harish Salve discussed the constitutional crisis in West Bengal following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's refusal to resign despite losing her seat and the decisive mandate against her party. Salve clarified that a Chief Minister holds office during the pleasure of the Governor, who can demand a resignation or impose President's rule if the assembly term ends. He criticised the refusal to accept electoral defeat, stating, "People who aspire for constitutional office must live within the Constitution." Salve dismissed the argument that the Election Commission was responsible for the opposition's loss, calling such claims a dangerous trend of "trivialising the Constitution." He compared the situation to a "transatlantic virus" where leaders reject rule-based orders in favour of personal choices. Emphasising that a voters list cannot be a ground to challenge an election under the Representation of People Act, Salve urged political leaders to respect democratic mandates and institutions, warning that undermining them threatens the foundation of India's democracy.