Kolkata: Octogenarian Trinamool leader and Ballygunge MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay on Monday filed an RTI application after the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Secretariat allegedly refused to recognise him as the Leader of the Opposition.
Denial of Opposition Leader Status
The Trinamool legislative party claimed it was being denied its rightful status despite having 80 MLAs in the 294-member assembly — comfortably above the 30-member threshold required for the post. Assembly sources said the Secretariat had not received signatures from MLAs and was instead given a note signed by a party functionary.
Party's Submission
Party sources, however, said a letter naming Chattopadhyay as legislative leader, Firhad Hakim as chief whip, and Nayana Bandopadhyay and Asima Patra as deputy leaders was submitted on May 13. Chattopadhyay expressed his frustration, stating, "There is no precedent for an exchange of letters to appoint the Leader of the Opposition."
After finding his designated office locked, Chattopadhyay decided to file the RTI to seek clarity on the procedural requirements. The move has sparked a political debate in the state, with the ruling party and opposition trading barbs over the issue.
