Spend Rs 1 lakh a month on bills: Mamata says rebels have no claim on TMC office
Mamata Banerjee defended her faction's claim over Trinamool Bhavan after the rebel camp seized the Kolkata headquarters. The standoff has sharpened the wider fight before the Election Commission over the party's name, symbol and organisation.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday defended her faction's claim over Trinamool Bhavan, a day after the party headquarters in Kolkata was taken over by the rebel camp led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, intensifying the battle for control of the party's organisation.
Speaking during a Facebook Live session, Banerjee asserted that the party office was legally leased until 2027 and rejected any suggestion that the dissident faction had a legitimate claim over the premises.
Banerjee, who recently took over as the West Bengal president of the Trinamool Congress following Chandrima Bhattacharya's resignation, made the remarks as the battle for control of the party and its organisational assets intensified.
"The office has been leased till 2027. It is the property of an institution, not of any individual. We have paid the rent every month and have cheque records to prove it. We also spend around Rs 1 lakh every month on maintenance, electricity bills, taxes and other expenses," she said.
Banerjee said she held no personal grudge against anyone but maintained that the dispute over the party office should be decided on the basis of legal documents and agreements rather than political assertions.
REBELS TOOK CONTROL OF HQ
Her remarks came a day after the rebel faction, led by Ritabrata Banerjee and backed by senior leaders including Firhad Hakim, took control of Trinamool Bhavan on Kolkata's EM Bypass. After returning from New Delhi, where they had appeared before the Election Commission, members of the group held meetings at the premises and allegedly padlocked the gates of the party headquarters.
The dissident camp claimed it had completed the necessary formalities with the owners of the property and would henceforth operate from Trinamool Bhavan. It also installed an All India Trinamool Congress signboard outside the office, naming senior MLA Arup Roy as the party's chairperson.
'FORMAL COMPLAINT LODGED'
The Mamata Banerjee camp strongly objected to the takeover, accusing expelled leaders of trespassing into the party office. Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said a formal police complaint had been lodged, arguing that expelled members had no organisational authority to occupy the headquarters.
The confrontation follows Thursday's hearing before the Election Commission, where the rebel faction sought recognition as the legitimate Trinamool Congress and staked its claim to the party's name and election symbol. The poll panel has directed both factions to submit their claims and supporting documents by July 6 as the high-stakes battle for control of the party enters a crucial phase.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday defended her faction's claim over Trinamool Bhavan, a day after the party headquarters in Kolkata was taken over by the rebel camp led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, intensifying the battle for control of the party's organisation.
Speaking during a Facebook Live session, Banerjee asserted that the party office was legally leased until 2027 and rejected any suggestion that the dissident faction had a legitimate claim over the premises.
Banerjee, who recently took over as the West Bengal president of the Trinamool Congress following Chandrima Bhattacharya's resignation, made the remarks as the battle for control of the party and its organisational assets intensified.
"The office has been leased till 2027. It is the property of an institution, not of any individual. We have paid the rent every month and have cheque records to prove it. We also spend around Rs 1 lakh every month on maintenance, electricity bills, taxes and other expenses," she said.
Banerjee said she held no personal grudge against anyone but maintained that the dispute over the party office should be decided on the basis of legal documents and agreements rather than political assertions.
REBELS TOOK CONTROL OF HQ
Her remarks came a day after the rebel faction, led by Ritabrata Banerjee and backed by senior leaders including Firhad Hakim, took control of Trinamool Bhavan on Kolkata's EM Bypass. After returning from New Delhi, where they had appeared before the Election Commission, members of the group held meetings at the premises and allegedly padlocked the gates of the party headquarters.
The dissident camp claimed it had completed the necessary formalities with the owners of the property and would henceforth operate from Trinamool Bhavan. It also installed an All India Trinamool Congress signboard outside the office, naming senior MLA Arup Roy as the party's chairperson.
'FORMAL COMPLAINT LODGED'
The Mamata Banerjee camp strongly objected to the takeover, accusing expelled leaders of trespassing into the party office. Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said a formal police complaint had been lodged, arguing that expelled members had no organisational authority to occupy the headquarters.
The confrontation follows Thursday's hearing before the Election Commission, where the rebel faction sought recognition as the legitimate Trinamool Congress and staked its claim to the party's name and election symbol. The poll panel has directed both factions to submit their claims and supporting documents by July 6 as the high-stakes battle for control of the party enters a crucial phase.
