Rebel faction seeks recognition from Election Commission
A ten-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) rebel faction, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, is set to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday to stake claim to the party name, election symbol and assets. Sources in the rebel group confirmed that the meeting has been scheduled after the Election Commission of India (EC) granted an audience to the delegation.
The move comes amid an escalating internal feud within the TMC, with the rebel faction challenging the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. The group, which includes several former TMC legislators and district-level leaders, has been demanding a change in the party leadership and has now formally approached the EC to assert control over the party's organizational structure and resources.
Details of the delegation and demands
According to sources, the delegation will submit a formal petition to the EC, arguing that the current leadership under Mamata Banerjee has lost the confidence of the party's grassroots workers. The rebel faction claims that they represent the true ideological and organizational base of the TMC. They are seeking recognition as the legitimate faction entitled to use the party name 'Trinamool Congress' and its reserved election symbol of 'jora ghas phul' (two flowers and grass).
Ritabrata Banerjee, a former TMC Rajya Sabha MP, has been at the forefront of the rebellion. He has previously accused the party leadership of corruption and authoritarianism. The rebel faction also intends to stake claim to the party's movable and immovable assets, including party offices and bank accounts, which are currently controlled by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction.
EC's role and legal implications
The Election Commission is empowered under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, to decide disputes between rival factions of a recognized political party. The EC typically examines organizational elections, membership records, and the support of MPs and MLAs to determine which faction is the legitimate successor. In the past, the EC has taken months to adjudicate such disputes, as seen in cases like the Shiv Sena split in 2022 and the AIADMK factional feud in 2017.
Legal experts say that the rebel faction faces an uphill task, as Mamata Banerjee's faction controls the majority of the party's elected representatives, including 22 Lok Sabha MPs and over 200 MLAs in West Bengal. However, the rebel group claims to have the support of a significant number of grassroots workers and several former legislators.
Political context and impact
The development comes ahead of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, which are due in April-May next year. The internal rift in the TMC could potentially benefit opposition parties like the BJP and the Left-Congress alliance. Political analysts say that a split in the TMC vote bank could alter the electoral dynamics in the state, especially in constituencies where the rebel faction has a strong presence.
Ritabrata Banerjee has been critical of the Mamata Banerjee government's handling of issues like unemployment, corruption, and law and order. He has also alleged that the party has strayed from its founding principles of secularism and social justice.
Reactions from the Mamata Banerjee camp
The TMC leadership has dismissed the rebel faction's claims as "illegitimate and politically motivated." A senior TMC leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "Ritabrata Banerjee and his group have no organizational backing. They are being used by the BJP to destabilize the party. The EC will see through their game." The party has also filed a counter-petition with the EC, asserting that Mamata Banerjee remains the undisputed leader of the TMC.
The EC is expected to hear both sides before making a decision. The outcome of this dispute could have far-reaching consequences for the political landscape in West Bengal and the future of the TMC.
