New Delhi, July 2: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought responses from Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee over conflicting claims regarding the organisational structure and authorised signatories of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).
The Commission has directed both sides to submit their replies by 5:30 pm on July 6 as it examines the competing claims over the party’s organisational structure and representation.
The development comes amid an ongoing leadership dispute within the party, with the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee claiming legitimacy over the party’s organisational structure and election-related matters.
Reacting to the ECI’s decision to hear the rival group, TMC MP Sougata Roy questioned its legitimacy, stating that Ritabrata Banerjee had been expelled from the party and had no authority to represent it.
TMC MP Sagarika Ghose also rejected the rival group’s claim, saying that under the Election Commission’s rules, only authorised representatives or designated signatories of a recognised political party are entitled to communicate with or appear before the Commission.
Meanwhile, Ritabrata Banerjee, who led a 10-member delegation to meet the full bench of the Election Commission, said the delegation was given a hearing by the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners.
He said the group had submitted its documents to the Commission after holding a special session on June 22 and had requested a meeting with the full bench. According to him, the Commission informed the delegation that it would examine the matter and respond in due course.
The internal dispute intensified after 58 of the TMC’s 80 MLAs reportedly broke away from the Mamata Banerjee-led leadership following the Assembly election defeat. The rebel legislators later backed Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and announced the formation of a 30-member National Working Committee.