The Trinamool Congress has issued show-cause notices to senior leaders including Firhad Hakim and Aroop Biswas after a rival faction unveiled a parallel leadership structure and claimed legitimacy over the party organisation.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses the media. | IANS
The Trinamool Congress has issued show-cause notices to several senior leaders, accusing them of engaging in anti-party activities, as a growing internal dispute spilled further into the open with a rival faction announcing its own leadership structure.
The disciplinary action comes a day after a group led by West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee claimed to have reorganised the All India Trinamool Congress at a special session and named senior leaders to key positions in a parallel committee.
Advertisement
Among those served notices are Arup Roy, Aroop Biswas, Firhad Hakim, Rathin Ghosh, Biplab Mitra, Javed Khan, Snehasis Chakraborty and Sabina Yasmin.
Advertisement
The rebel camp on Monday announced the formation of an All India Trinamool Congress Committee and a 30-member National Working Committee. Arup Roy was named chairperson, while Firhad Hakim and Aroop Biswas were among those appointed to senior roles.
Addressing reporters, Ritabrata Banerjee said delegates had unanimously elected the new leadership.
“A special session of the All India Trinamool Congress was organised here today. During this session, the All India Trinamool Congress Committee and the NWC were constituted through a unanimous election of delegates. Arup Roy has been elected as the Chairperson of the All India Trinamool Congress,” he said.
According to Banerjee, the newly formed National Working Committee includes Sabina Yasmin, Rathin Ghosh, Firhad Hakim, Arup Biswas, Javed Khan and others. He also said district committees and district presidents would be announced in the coming days.
The rebel leader reiterated that his group wanted former chief minister Mamata Banerjee to remain associated with the organisation as a mentor.
“We have repeatedly stated our stance regarding Mamata Banerjee’s role within the TMC. We want ‘Didi’ to assume the responsibility of a mentor and guide us,” he said.
Banerjee later challenged the legitimacy of decisions taken by the faction aligned with Mamata Banerjee.
“That party doesn’t exist anymore. There are still people in the committee who have aligned with us. One ought to verify who is actually in the party and who isn’t. The appointments made for District Presidents are entirely illegal,” he said.
He also alleged that names were being announced without consulting the leaders concerned.
“I request them that whenever you announce a name, at least consult the person first. The ‘National Working Committee’ they formed illegally included the name of a senior veteran leader,” he said.
Claiming his group represented the real Trinamool Congress, Banerjee said any dispute over the party symbol should be settled by the Election Commission.
“We are the Trinamool Congress, so the symbol belongs to us. If there is any dispute regarding this, the Election Commission will adjudicate the matter,” he said.
Reacting to the developments, Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh accused members of the rival camp of unlawfully using the party’s name and attempting to create confusion.
“We believe that Trinamool Congress means Mamata Banerjee, and Mamata Banerjee means Trinamool Congress,” Ghosh said.
He alleged that efforts were being made to pressure party leaders and workers into joining the rival camp and said the people of West Bengal would reject such attempts.
“If you have the courage and wish to leave the party, then have the guts to come to Didi, and say, ‘Didi, I am leaving.’ But you lack that courage,” he said.
Ghosh also dismissed claims over the party symbol and said Trinamool workers and supporters remained firmly behind Mamata Banerjee.
Arup Roy thanked members of the rival committee for electing him as chairperson and said the group would continue working among the people of the state.
“I am thankful for choosing me. It is a big responsibility. We have to stand by our workers and work together,” Roy said.
Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy also played down the significance of the breakaway group.
“Mamata Banerjee made the party. Ritabrata and others came from CPI(M). What importance do they hold?” Roy said while speaking to reporters in Darjeeling.
Advertisement
