TMC rebel faction meets ECI, demands party name and symbol; Mamata loyalist says, ‘Tenant claiming ownership of house’

The Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress’ Legislative Party in West Bengal Assembly on Thursday met the Election Commission of India reportedly to present their case for party’s name and symbol.

The rebel faction of the TMC has already created a parallel organisational structure, “suspended” Abhishek Banerjee and “removed” Mamata Banerjee as party’s chairperson, even as the Mamata-led faction dismissed these changes as “illegal”.

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With the ball now in EC’s court, a 10-member delegation of the rebel faction, headed by the expelled party member Ritabrata Banerjee, met the full bench of the commission.

Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Ritabrata Banerjee claimed that his faction has two-thirds of the MLAs, asserting that there was no need raise a separate demand for the right over the name and election symbol of the party.

“More than two-thirds of the party MLAs in West Bengal are with us. Most of the former ministers in the previous Trinamool Congress cabinet in West Bengal are on our side. The majority of councillors of different municipal corporations and municipalities are with us. The majority of Zilla Parishad members in different districts are with us. So, what is our need to raise the demand separately for the right over the party name and election symbol?” Ritabrata said.

He also said that on June 22, a special convention of party delegates was organised, nominating veteran party legislator Arup Roy as the new chairperson of the party, replacing the former West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee.

“Akhruzzaman, another legislator, was made the new party treasurer. We informed the Commission about that convention the very next day. Today, the full bench of the Commission gave us time, who represent the All India Trinamool Congress. We met and conveyed our views,” said Ritabrata.

He also said that the Commission had noted all the arguments presented by them and assured them to look into the matter.

‘Tenant claiming to be owner of the house,’ says Mamata loyalist on rebel faction meeting with ECI

However, party legislator Kunal Ghosh, a prominent face from the “minority” faction, which is owing its allegiance to Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, ridiculed the meeting of the rebel camp with the ECI’s full bench.

“Trinamool Congress cannot exist without Mamata Banerjee. All the workers and supporters are with her. Those who are claiming to be the ‘real Trinamool Congress today’, the affidavit they gave to the Commission two months back had the signatures of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee on two specific forms. This is like a tenant claiming to be the owner of the house today,” Ghosh said.

(With inputs from agencies)