Suspended MLA Ritabrata Banerjee arrives with 59 support letters, puts TMC’s Opposition leadership claim under spotlight

The cracks within the Trinamool Congress widened further on Wednesday as suspended MLA Ritabrata Banerjee arrived at the Assembly, claiming the backing of 59 legislators and challenging the authority of the party leadership’s faction in the House.

The development marks the latest escalation in a bitter internal dispute within the Trinamool Congress over the selection of the Leader of Opposition and allegations surrounding signatures on Assembly-related documents. The rebellion has already led to the expulsion of two party MLAs and triggered a CID investigation.

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Ritabrata, who represents the Uluberia Purba Assembly constituency, reached the Assembly premises at around 10.30 am. Soon after, several MLAs were seen entering the complex. Members associated with the rebel camp indicated that another suspended legislator, Sandipan Saha of Entally, was also expected to join them before a meeting of the group.

“After Sandipan arrives, there will be a brief meeting, and after that, whatever is necessary will be done, and then the media will be informed,” a woman MLA aligned with the group told reporters.

The claim of majority support gained further traction after some legislators publicly acknowledged signing the document.

Speaking to reporters, TMC MLA Mustafizur Rahman said, “We don’t know the exact figure. I am hearing from outside that 59 signatures have been received. I am hearing this. I have also signed.”

#WATCH | Kolkata | On nomination of West Bengal Assembly LoP, TMC MLA Mustafizur Rahman says, “We don’t know the exact figure… I am hearing from outside that 59 signatures have been recieved. I am hearing this. I have also signed…” pic.twitter.com/RoBqcqCIal

— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2026

Another legislator, Priya Paul, declined to reveal her position before the meeting and said she would speak after discussions inside the Assembly.

What triggered the latest rebellion within TMC?

The latest flashpoint centres on the appointment of senior TMC leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.

According to the rebel camp, questions were raised over the process through which support signatures of MLAs were collected and submitted. Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha subsequently approached Speaker Rathindra Bose’s office, alleging irregularities in documents related to the legislative party’s decisions.

The dispute eventually led to the registration of an FIR at Hare Street Police Station. The matter was later transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.

Suspensions came amid signature controversy

On Monday, the All India Trinamool Congress expelled Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha from the party’s primary membership with immediate effect, citing anti-party activities.

The action came shortly after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that the CID had begun probing allegations linked to a mismatch in signatures appearing on an important Assembly-related document.

Addressing a press conference earlier, Adhikari said the law would take its own course under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and asserted that those found responsible for forging signatures would not be spared.

He said that on May 9, a letter from the party’s national general secretary proposed Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition, with Nayana Bandyopadhyay and Ashima Patra as deputy leaders and Firhad Hakim as chief whip. According to him, another communication carrying 70 signatures followed on May 20.

Adhikari further claimed that the CID had begun collecting signature samples from MLAs whose names appeared on the document and alleged that some legislators had informed investigators they had not signed it.

Ritabrata sharpens attack on Abhishek Banerjee

A day before Wednesday’s developments, Ritabrata Banerjee launched a strong attack on Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Referring to Abhishek Banerjee seeking Central Armed Police Force security after he was assaulted in Sonarpur on May 30, Ritabrata questioned the move and accused him of distancing himself from party workers after the electoral setback suffered by the Trinamool Congress.

He also alleged that the party was being run in a corporate management style and was overly dependent on the political consultancy firm I-PAC.

The latest developments point to a widening split within the Trinamool Congress legislature party, with the coming days likely to determine whether the rebel camp can translate its claimed numerical strength into a formal challenge within the Assembly.