Ritabrata faction 'takes over' TMC HQ in Kolkata as battle with Mamata escalates
The crisis within the 28-year-old Trinamool Congress deepened after a majority of its MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee's challenge to Mamata Banerjee's leadership and elected senior legislator Arup Roy as the party's chairperson during a special session convened by the dissident camp last month.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) rebel MLAs on Friday took control of the party headquarters in Kolkata, a day after staking their claim to the party's name and election symbol before the Election Commission.
The group led by Ritabrata Banerjee and Firhad Hakim returned from New Delhi and moved to assert control over Trinamool Bhavan on EM Bypass. After holding meetings at the premises, members of the group allegedly padlocked the gates of the party office.
The rebel group told mediapersons that it had completed the necessary formalities with the owners of the premises and would henceforth operate from Trinamool Bhavan.
A day earlier, the dissident leaders had appeared before the full bench of the Election Commission in New Delhi, claiming they were the legitimate representatives of the Trinamool Congress and therefore entitled to the party's name and symbol.
The group subsequently put up an "All India Trinamool Congress" banner outside Trinamool Bhavan, naming senior MLA Arup Roy as the party's chairperson.
MAMATA CAMP HITS BACK
The 'take over' drew sharp criticism from leaders aligned with Mamata Banerjee's camp, including Madan Mitra and Kunal Ghosh. Police and central forces have since been deployed outside the party headquarters amid rising tensions.
"We have lodged a formal police complaint against those who trespassed into Trinamool Bhavan today and put a lock on it. There was absolutely no need to put a lock on the premises. Furthermore, expelled members have no right to enter the party office," said TMC MLA Ghosh.
Referring to the breakaway group's office in Rajdanga, Mamata loyalist Kalyan Banerjee said merely operating from a separate office did not lend legitimacy to their claim over the Trinamool Congress.
"He is a criminal. There are criminal cases against him. He has committed crimes. What connection do those people have with our party office? They have no connection at all," the Sreerampur MP said.
He further said the Mamata-led faction would challenge the rebels legally and politically.
MAMATA FACTION QUESTIONS EC HEARING
Thursday's meeting with the Election Commission drew criticism from the Mamata Banerjee camp, which maintained that leaders expelled from the party had no legal or organisational authority to represent the Trinamool Congress before the poll body.
"The Election Commission had informed all political parties that only authorised signatories can seek a meeting. The AITC did not ask for a meeting. On what basis did the Election Commission grant an appointment to a person expelled by the TMC?" senior leader Saugata Roy said.
Following the hearing, the Election Commission asked both groups to submit their respective claims and counterclaims regarding the party's organisational elections, authorised signatories and control over the organisation by 5.30 pm on July 6.
The Sreerampur MP said the poll panel had sought the party's response on certain documents and that it would respond at the appropriate time. He added that his faction would expose the criminal cases pending against members of the breakaway group before the courts and the public.
BATTLE FOR THE TMC
The crisis within the 28-year-old Trinamool Congress deepened after a majority of its MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee's challenge to Mamata's leadership and elected senior legislator Arup Roy as the party's chairperson during a special session convened by the dissident camp last month.
The development came weeks after the Ritabrata-led group, backed by 58 MLAs, revolted against the former chief minister, reportedly over the growing influence of her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, within the party. The rebels were subsequently recognised by the West Bengal Assembly Speaker as the legislature party.
While the Mamata camp has dismissed the rebellion as unconstitutional and alleged that it was orchestrated by the BJP, the dissidents have sought to reinforce their claim over the Trinamool Congress by taking control of the organisational headquarters.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) rebel MLAs on Friday took control of the party headquarters in Kolkata, a day after staking their claim to the party's name and election symbol before the Election Commission.
The group led by Ritabrata Banerjee and Firhad Hakim returned from New Delhi and moved to assert control over Trinamool Bhavan on EM Bypass. After holding meetings at the premises, members of the group allegedly padlocked the gates of the party office.
The rebel group told mediapersons that it had completed the necessary formalities with the owners of the premises and would henceforth operate from Trinamool Bhavan.
A day earlier, the dissident leaders had appeared before the full bench of the Election Commission in New Delhi, claiming they were the legitimate representatives of the Trinamool Congress and therefore entitled to the party's name and symbol.
The group subsequently put up an "All India Trinamool Congress" banner outside Trinamool Bhavan, naming senior MLA Arup Roy as the party's chairperson.
MAMATA CAMP HITS BACK
The 'take over' drew sharp criticism from leaders aligned with Mamata Banerjee's camp, including Madan Mitra and Kunal Ghosh. Police and central forces have since been deployed outside the party headquarters amid rising tensions.
"We have lodged a formal police complaint against those who trespassed into Trinamool Bhavan today and put a lock on it. There was absolutely no need to put a lock on the premises. Furthermore, expelled members have no right to enter the party office," said TMC MLA Ghosh.
Referring to the breakaway group's office in Rajdanga, Mamata loyalist Kalyan Banerjee said merely operating from a separate office did not lend legitimacy to their claim over the Trinamool Congress.
"He is a criminal. There are criminal cases against him. He has committed crimes. What connection do those people have with our party office? They have no connection at all," the Sreerampur MP said.
He further said the Mamata-led faction would challenge the rebels legally and politically.
MAMATA FACTION QUESTIONS EC HEARING
Thursday's meeting with the Election Commission drew criticism from the Mamata Banerjee camp, which maintained that leaders expelled from the party had no legal or organisational authority to represent the Trinamool Congress before the poll body.
"The Election Commission had informed all political parties that only authorised signatories can seek a meeting. The AITC did not ask for a meeting. On what basis did the Election Commission grant an appointment to a person expelled by the TMC?" senior leader Saugata Roy said.
Following the hearing, the Election Commission asked both groups to submit their respective claims and counterclaims regarding the party's organisational elections, authorised signatories and control over the organisation by 5.30 pm on July 6.
The Sreerampur MP said the poll panel had sought the party's response on certain documents and that it would respond at the appropriate time. He added that his faction would expose the criminal cases pending against members of the breakaway group before the courts and the public.
BATTLE FOR THE TMC
The crisis within the 28-year-old Trinamool Congress deepened after a majority of its MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee's challenge to Mamata's leadership and elected senior legislator Arup Roy as the party's chairperson during a special session convened by the dissident camp last month.
The development came weeks after the Ritabrata-led group, backed by 58 MLAs, revolted against the former chief minister, reportedly over the growing influence of her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, within the party. The rebels were subsequently recognised by the West Bengal Assembly Speaker as the legislature party.
While the Mamata camp has dismissed the rebellion as unconstitutional and alleged that it was orchestrated by the BJP, the dissidents have sought to reinforce their claim over the Trinamool Congress by taking control of the organisational headquarters.
