The post-split turmoil within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) played out on divergent tracks on Thursday, as several Lok Sabha MPs received feelers to abandon the Mamata Banerjee-Abhishek Banerjee leadership. This development came amid signs that some among the 58 MLAs of the breakaway group may have developed cold feet.
Rebel MLAs Meeting Raises Questions
Only 32 of the rebel MLAs who had chosen expelled colleague Ritabrata Banerjee as the leader of opposition (LoP) attended a meeting in the assembly, reinforcing speculation that all is not well within the group. Sources revealed that 16 of them indicated they might walk away unless former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was declared party "chairperson" instead of "chief adviser," as announced by Ritabrata.
"We want her to remain the chairperson. Our political careers have grown under her shadow," said Panchla MLA Gulshan Mullick, expressing the sentiments of the dissenting faction.
Speaker Rules Expulsions Invalid
However, rumblings within the rebel bloc did not ease Mamata's troubles. Assembly Speaker Rathindra Basu ruled that the expulsion of Ritabrata Banerjee and Entally MLA Sandipan Saha, who was named deputy leader of opposition, by the TMC brass was invalid. "Per the party's constitution, a show-cause notice must be served and time given to respond. Expulsions cannot happen abruptly in a day. They (rebels) have the required number of legislators, so I accepted their letter," he stated.
Ritabrata and Saha were expelled for "anti-party activities" after they alleged that their signatures and those of several other MLAs had been forged in the letter recommending veteran Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as LoP.
TMC to Move High Court
The TMC is now planning to move the Calcutta High Court against the Speaker's recognition of Ritabrata as LoP, arguing that an expelled MLA cannot hold that post. The party contends that the expulsion was valid and that Ritabrata's claim to the position is legally untenable.
The ongoing power struggle within the TMC continues to create uncertainty, with both factions maneuvering for political advantage. The coming days are likely to see further legal and political battles as the party seeks to resolve the crisis.
