The internal battle within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) intensified on Tuesday after West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee asserted that his faction represents the “real” Trinamool Congress and enjoys the backing of a majority of the party’s elected representatives.
The remarks came a day after the rebel faction submitted a list of its national working committee members to the Election Commission of India, escalating the political standoff within the party founded by Mamata Banerjee.
Ritabrata Banerjee Claims Majority Support
Addressing a press conference, Ritabrata Banerjee dismissed suggestions that his group would need to formally stake a claim to the party’s iconic two-flower symbol.
“We are the Trinamool Congress. Therefore, there is no question of claiming the party symbol,” he said.
According to the rebel camp, a significant majority of TMC legislators have aligned with its faction, strengthening its claim over the party’s future direction.
Rebels Remove Mamata Banerjee as Party Chairperson
The political crisis deepened after the rebel faction held a meeting in New Town, Kolkata, where participating legislators reportedly voted to remove Mamata Banerjee from the post of party chairperson.
The group subsequently elected Arup Roy as the new chairperson.
Rebel leaders argued that the national working committee constituted in February 2022 had completed its three-year term, creating what they described as a constitutional vacuum within the party structure.
Mamata Camp Responds with Rival Submission
In response, the Mamata Banerjee faction submitted its own revised list to the Election Commission.
The document retained Mamata Banerjee as party chairperson and Abhishek Banerjee as national general secretary.
Leaders aligned with Mamata maintained that their faction remains the original organizational structure of the party despite facing challenges within the legislative wing.
Election Commission to Examine Rival Claims
The dispute is now expected to be reviewed by the Election Commission under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
Election authorities are likely to evaluate support enjoyed by both factions across two key areas:
- Organizational strength within the party
- Support among elected legislators and Members of Parliament
The assessment will be guided by principles established in the landmark Sadiq Ali vs Election Commission of India judgment.
Battle for Party Identity Intensifies
The rebel faction claims support from approximately 81 percent of TMC legislators and a majority of the party’s Lok Sabha representatives. Meanwhile, the Mamata Banerjee camp continues to assert its legitimacy based on its organizational structure and historical leadership of the party.
Political observers believe the Election Commission’s eventual decision could significantly influence the future of one of West Bengal’s most influential political parties.
