The Trinamool fight escalates as the Ritabrata-led camp “takes control” of the party headquarters

People walk past a banner of the rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) faction displayed outside the Trinamool Bhavan in Kolkata on July 3, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

The feud between the two camps of the Trinamool Congress played out on the streets of Kolkata on Friday (July 3, 2026) when a faction led by Opposition Leader Ritabrata Banerjee occupied and locked down the party’s headquarters located next to the eastern capital’s ring road.

Accompanied by a group of MLAs including Firhad Hakim, Sandipan Saha, Javed Khan, Akhruzzaman, Mr. Banerjee went to the party headquarters office.

“We are real Trinamool. This is our office. The emotions of Trinamool are attached to this office,” Mr Banerjee said. He added that he had discussed issues related to the lease with the landlord.

Mamata faithful

On receiving information that the Ritabrata camp was trying to occupy the party office, former chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s loyalists — MLAs Kunal Ghosh and Baishwnar Chatterjee — arrived at the office to claim a stake.

Mr Chatterjee told reporters that they have a lease till October 2027 and the party office belongs to them. “There is no party without Mamata Banerjee and it is her office. I don’t know at whose behest they (rival factions) are doing this. We will fight it according to the law,” he said.

“With the direct support of the government and the police, the expelled person has become the BJP’s B team (referring to Ritabrat Banerjee),” Mr Ghosh said.

Meanwhile, the rebels put up a banner with a photo of their newly elected chairman Arup Roy on the building. A banner with Mamata Banerjee’s photo and the party’s name also remains displayed on the building.

The development comes a day after Ritabrata Banerjee and other MLAs from his camp met the entire Election Commission (EC) in Delhi and took sides. The EC has written to both the Trinamool camps, led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee, seeking responses regarding the “claims and counter-claims” made in connection with the organizational elections and authorized signatories.

Mr. Banerjee was elected Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly on June 3 with the support of 58 MLAs. The rebel camp now claims the support of 65 out of 80 MLAs.

The owner of the Trinamool Metropolitan office, as it is referred to, is Monotosh Saha, whose company was contracted to set up a stage for the party during the election campaign. However, after the rallies, the relationship between the owner and the Trinamool changed and he started demanding the property back from the party.

Published – 04 Jul 2026 0:11 IST