A delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by senior leader Kalyan Banerjee submitted its response to the Election Commission (EC) on Monday, asserting that the party's existing leadership remains constitutionally valid until 2027. The party accused the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee of misreading its constitution and making false claims.
The development comes after the EC last week issued notices to both factions—one led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the other by Ritabrata Banerjee—following Ritabrata's petition seeking recognition as the 'real' Trinamool Congress. The poll panel directed both sides to submit detailed replies by 5:30 pm on July 6.
TMC Files Comprehensive Reply
Speaking to reporters after submitting the party’s response at the EC office, Kalyan Banerjee, accompanied by Mahua Moitra and Sagarika Ghosh, said the party had filed a comprehensive reply addressing every allegation raised by the rival faction. “Today, we have filed our response which was sought by the EC on the basis of a representation made by Ritabrata Banerjee, the alleged secretary of the alleged TMC. We have given a very detailed reply on that,” Kalyan said.
Rival Faction's Claim on Tenure
Kalyan Banerjee explained that the rival faction’s primary contention was that the tenure of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) committee and the National Working Committee was limited to three years and had consequently expired in 2025, rendering the current leadership invalid. Rejecting this claim, Kalyan said that when the West Bengal Trinamool Congress was first registered as a political party in 1998, the tenure of the Working Committee and the AITC committee was indeed three years.
However, after the party was converted into the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) in 2000 and the amended constitution was approved by the EC, the tenure was extended to four years. A subsequent constitutional amendment in 2006 further increased the tenure to five years, a change that was formally communicated to the EC.
EC's Recognition of Five-Year Tenure
Kalyan argued that the Commission has since recognized the five-year tenure and has consistently directed the party to conduct its organizational elections within that period. “The last election was held in 2022. Therefore, automatically the life of the AITC and the National Working Committee remains for a period of five years. It will expire in 2027. Therefore, the first allegation that the life is no longer there is incorrect and not supported by the constitutional provisions of the AITC,” he said.
The TMC's response aims to counter the rival faction's claims and reaffirm the legitimacy of Mamata Banerjee's leadership. The EC is expected to review the submissions from both sides before making a decision on the recognition dispute.
