TMC Revolt Erupts as 58 MLAs Back Ritabrata Banerjee
Rebel Camp Alleges Forged Signatures, Challenges Mamata Banerjee's Control Over Legislature Party
- 58 rebel MLAs elect Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition
- Dissidents allege attendance register was used as a resolution
- Sandipan Saha claims MLAs’ signatures were misused
- Crisis marks TMC’s biggest internal rebellion in years
GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 4th June: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) plunged deeper into crisis on Wednesday after 58 rebel MLAs elected expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, escalating a bitter power struggle within the party.
The rebellion stems from allegations that signatures collected from legislators on an attendance register were later used to support a resolution backing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition and appointing other key functionaries of the legislature party.
Expelled TMC MLA Sandipan Saha alleged that MLAs were asked to sign an attendance register during a meeting, only to later discover that the same document had been submitted as a formal resolution.
“We signed only an attendance register. Later, we found it had been converted into a resolution. Names of some MLAs who were not even present were included in the document,” Saha claimed.
According to Saha, he and Ritabrata Banerjee formally approached the Assembly Speaker after learning about the alleged irregularities. Their complaint led to an inquiry and a subsequent police investigation into the matter.
Saha alleged that the probe revealed discrepancies involving signatures and the inclusion of names of legislators who were not present at the meeting.
The controversy soon snowballed into a broader revolt, with several MLAs rallying behind the dissident camp.
The rebel group on Wednesday announced a new leadership structure, naming Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition and Akhruzzaman as chief whip. Senior legislators Javed Ahmed Khan, Sandipan Saha, Sabina Yasmin and Shiuli Saha were appointed deputy leaders.
Defending the move, Saha said the decision reflected democratic principles within the legislature party.
“If 58 MLAs are together, they form the principal opposition and have the right to choose their leader through discussion and consensus,” he said.
The dissident leader also alleged that opportunities for dialogue within the party had diminished, making it difficult for legislators to raise concerns with the leadership.
The rebellion represents one of the most serious internal challenges faced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee since she founded the Trinamool Congress.
Despite his criticism, Saha acknowledged Mamata Banerjee’s contribution to the party and West Bengal politics.
“There is no doubt that she built this party and served as a strong opposition leader and Chief Minister. However, the ideology on which the party was founded no longer exists,” he said.
The latest developments have intensified uncertainty within the TMC, with political observers closely watching how the party leadership responds to a rebellion that threatens its unity and authority in the Assembly.
The Assembly Speaker and investigating agencies are expected to continue examining the allegations surrounding the disputed resolution and the alleged misuse of legislators’ signatures.
