A crucial legislative party meeting of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was postponed on Sunday after only 19 of the party’s 80 MLAs attended the gathering convened by party chief Mamata Banerjee at her Kolkata residence.
The meeting was scheduled to discuss the ongoing Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into alleged forged signatures on a letter nominating senior TMC leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly.
The low turnout has triggered political discussions, especially as TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee is expected to appear before the CID for questioning in connection with the case.
TMC Cites Protest Activities for Low Attendance
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said many legislators were unable to attend because they were participating in demonstrations against the alleged attacks on Abhishek Banerjee and party MP Kalyan Banerjee.
According to Ghosh, several MLAs informed the party leadership that they were engaged in protest programmes across the state and requested that the meeting be postponed.
The party has announced district-level demonstrations and a major protest rally in Kolkata led by Mamata Banerjee.
Signature Forgery Allegations Under Investigation
The controversy began after a letter submitted to the Assembly for the nomination of Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition reportedly contained signatures that did not match official records.
Following a complaint from the Assembly Secretariat, the matter was handed over to the CID for investigation.
Several TMC legislators have already been questioned. One MLA reportedly informed investigators that he had not signed the nomination letter, raising further concerns about the authenticity of some signatures.
Political Pressure Mounts After Election Defeat
The development comes shortly after the TMC suffered a major setback in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The party is now working to reorganize its legislative strategy while facing scrutiny over the nomination controversy.
Political observers believe the poor attendance at the meeting could raise questions about internal coordination within the party during a critical period.
What Happens Next?
The TMC leadership is expected to announce a new date for the legislative party meeting. Meanwhile, the CID investigation into the alleged signature forgery continues, with more legislators likely to be questioned in the coming days.
The outcome of the probe could have significant implications for the party’s opposition leadership structure in the Assembly.
