Ritabrata camp’s national executive ‘only lawful’ Trinamool authority, says Alipore court

In a major legal victory for the Ritabrata Banerjee faction of the Trinamool Congress, an Alipore court has recognised the National Executive Committee (NWC) elected it as the only lawful body authorised to administer the party.

The ‘rebel’ camp had appointed its committee at the party’s special session on June 22. The latest ruling gives a moral victory to the bloc which is fighting to assert itself as the ‘real’ Trinamool party.

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Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Ritabrata said the court had ruled that the National Executive Committee constituted at the special session held on June 22, 2026, “constitutes the only lawful executive body authorised to administer the activities of the Trinamul Congress.”

“The National Executive Committee elected at the special session held on 22.06.2026 constitutes the only lawful executive body authorised to administer the activities of the Trinamool Congress,” he said, quoting from the court order.

According to Ritabrata, the order also restrains any rival faction from claiming to represent the party or interfering with its functioning and added that no one can claim to be the representatives or office-bearers of the party.

“The court has also restrained them from interfering in the administration of the party and they cannot issue any direction,” he said, citing the court’s observations.

He further quoted the order as saying that rival groups have no authority over the party’s records, funds, bank accounts or properties and “constitutional and statutory authorities cannot be communicated with, in the name of the Trinamool Congress” by any person or body other than the recognised National Executive Committee.

Ritabrata said the court had made it clear that the working committee headed by Arup Roy alone was legally empowered to administer all affairs of the Trinamool Congress.

Describing the verdict as a landmark judgment, he said, “The days of muscle power overriding party rules are over.”

“Any attempt to forcibly occupy Trinamool Bhavan in Kolkata or any other party office in the state would also be illegal,” Ritabrata said referring to the order.

Explaining the background of the case, Ritabrata said the litigation had been initiated by ordinary party workers after a special session of the Trinamool Congress was held at a hotel in Kolkata on June 22.

At that session, he said, a new National Executive Committee was elected in accordance with the party constitution and Arup Roy was chosen as its chairperson.

He alleged that despite the formation of the new committee, some individuals had continued to use the party’s name and attempted to enter party offices to create confusion.

“The court’s observations have now separated fact from fiction,” he said.

Ritabrata said a copy of the court order had already been circulated among party workers and the leadership would shortly meet legal advisers to decide the next course of action.

He warned that any attempt by expelled or rival leaders to function in the name of the All India Trinamool Congress or forcibly enter party offices would invite strict criminal proceedings based on the court’s order.

He also said senior leaders of the recognised organisation would soon meet to chalk out a roadmap for taking charge of Trinamool Bhavan and managing the party’s organisational activities in accordance with the court’s directions.