TMC vs TMC: EC seeks reply from Mamata, Ritabrat Banerjee over conflicting organizational claims | Today’s news
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially intervened in the ongoing All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) leadership tussle, seeking answers from Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrat Banerjee over conflicting claims over the party’s organizational structure and authorized signatories.
The poll body has directed both factions to submit their responses by 5.30pm on Monday, July 6.
The move comes amid a deepening rift within the party, with a faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee claiming legitimacy over the party’s symbols and administration.
Reacting strongly to ECI’s decision to engage with the breakaway group, TMC MP Sougata Roy questioned the credibility of the rival faction, pointing out that Ritabrata Banerjee had earlier been expelled from the party.
“These people have no credibility. Our question is why were they given a separate meeting? They should not have been allowed. Ritabrata Banerjee has been expelled from the party. What right do they have or how can they represent the party?” Roy said NO.
TMC MP Sagarika Ghose dismissed the rival faction as an illegitimate group led by an expelled member, arguing that under ECI rules, only authorized signatories of the party have legal standing to represent the party or to deal with the Commission.
Ghose said: “This is not a faction at all. It’s just a bunch of people gathered out of thin air. Their ‘self-proclaimed leader’ has already been expelled from the party. The commission’s own rules state that only an authorized representative or designated signatory of the party can write to the commission and then meet them. No one else can request an appointment.”
On the other hand, Ritabrata Banerjee, the leader of the 10-member delegation, met the full bench of the Election Commission. After the meeting, he expressed satisfaction with the “patient hearing” provided by the Chief Election Commissioner.
“The special session was held on June 22 and as per the rules, we sent our representatives to the ECI immediately after that. We handed over our documentation and asked to meet the entire bench,” said Ritabrata Banerjee.
He further added, “So we would like to thank the ECI that the entire bench gave time to our 10-member delegation. They gave us a patient hearing. CEC Gyanesh Kumar and other commissioners said they would get back to us.”
The political crisis in the party deepened after 58 out of 80 TMC MLAs broke away from the Mamata Banerjee-led leadership following the Assembly defeat. Rebel lawmakers subsequently endorsed Ritabrat Banerjee as Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and announced a new 30-member National Working Committee.
