In a fresh setback for Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, the Calcutta high court on Thursday refused to grant interim relief in a plea challenging the appointment of rebel TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as leader of opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal assembly. The court allowed the Speaker's decision to remain in force pending further hearings.
Court's Decision
Justice Krishna Rao declined to pass any interim order in the matter, allowing the Speaker's decision to remain in force until further hearings. The petition challenged the recognition of Ritabrata Banerjee as LoP by West Bengal legislative assembly speaker Rathindra Bose, instead of Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, who was the choice of Mamata Banerjee.
Next Steps
The court directed the parties to complete the exchange of affidavits before the next hearing. Justice Rao asked the respondents to file their affidavit-in-opposition within three weeks, while the petitioner has been granted two weeks thereafter to file a reply. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on July 28.
With the high court refusing to stay the Speaker's decision, Ritabrata Banerjee will continue to serve as the recognised leader of opposition pending the outcome of the case.
Political Crisis
The dispute stems from a major political crisis within the Trinamool Congress after Ritabrata Banerjee, who was expelled from the party, emerged as the face of a rebellion against the TMC leadership. Ritabrata claimed the support of 58 rebel TMC MLAs and formed a breakaway faction that acknowledged Mamata Banerjee as the party's leader but rejected the authority of her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The controversy escalated after West Bengal assembly speaker Rathindra Bose accepted the rebel faction's claim and appointed Ritabrata Banerjee as the leader of opposition, overriding the official nominee backed by the Mamata Banerjee camp.
Legal Challenge
Mamata Banerjee's faction subsequently moved the Calcutta high court, arguing that the Speaker's decision bypassed the officially recognised political party and violated constitutional principles governing legislative party recognition.
With inputs from agencies.
