ECI asks both factions of TMC to submit answers for organizational elections

Members of the Rebel Trinamool Faction led by Ritabrat Banerjee address the media after a meeting with the Election Commission in New Delhi on July 2, 2026. | Photo credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has written to both factions of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee, respectively, seeking answers to the “claims and counter-claims” raised in connection with the organizational elections and authorized signatories.

Both parties have been asked to submit their replies by 5.30 pm on Monday (July 6, 2026), ECI sources said on Thursday (July 2, 2026).

Earlier in the day, the entire polling bench met the rebel faction of the party led by Uluberia Purba MLA Ritabrata Banerjee.

However, Mamata Banerjee’s party contested the ECI’s decision to grant an audience to the rebel faction, arguing that the meeting violated the electoral body’s own procedures to grant appointments only to authorized signatories of a recognized political party.

“The ECI has informed all parties about its rule where only authorized party representatives can request a meeting with the full ECI Bench. We have not requested any meeting. On what basis does the ECI meet splinter party MLAs? We decide who represents our party. Gyanesh Kumar (Chief Election Commissioner) has no role or authority to decide for us,” Saugata Roy told TMC media representatives.

After meeting the ECI, Mr. Ritabrata Banerjee said that a 10-member delegation led by him formally presented its case to the panel after informing it about the faction’s special organizational meeting held on June 22 in Kolkata.

The commission gave them a “patient hearing” on their claim to the party, he said, and expressed hope that the probing body would respond soon.

While refusing to disclose the documents submitted by the ECI, Mr. Ritabrata Banerjee said the rebel faction “followed all the rules” while conducting the June 22 organizational meeting.

“The All India Trinamool Congress held a special session in Kolkata on June 22. Immediately after the session, we formally informed the Election Commission in writing. We also met the Election Commission in Kolkata and requested a meeting with the Election Commission of India,” he said, adding that it was part of the prescribed procedure and the faction had already completed the process.

Mr. Ritabrata Banerjee reiterated the faction’s claim that it represents the “real” Trinamool Congress.

On June 3, 58 Trinamool Congress MLAs submitted a letter to the Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly appointing Mr. Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly. This was against the party’s decision to nominate 10-time MLA and veteran leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay to the post on May 20.

On June 22, the “rebel” group removed Ms Mamata Banerjee, who had founded the party in 1998, as TMC president and appointed its own national working committee of the party. The next day, they moved ECI to claim the party’s name and symbol.

A group led by Ms Mamata Banerjee, after the TMC National Working Committee meeting on June 20, informed the ECI about the changes made in the party’s organisation, including the appointment of two joint secretaries – Dol Sen and Derek O’ Brien.

In the Lok Sabha, the Trinamool Congress parliamentary party also saw a split, with 20 of the 28 MPs merging into the little-known nationalist Civic Party of India.

Published – 02 Jul 2026 21:47 IST