Kolkata : In a major development, the rebel group of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Ritabrata Banerjee, has challenged Mamata Banerjee’s leadership by appointing senior MLA Arup Roy as the chairperson of what it calls the “real” TMC. The rebel faction also suspended TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and announced a separate party structure. This is the biggest challenge Mamata Banerjee has faced within the party so far.
The move comes after several leaders and lawmakers rebelled against the party leadership following TMC’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. At a meeting held in New Town, Ritabrata Banerjee and rebel MLAs met with party councillors and leaders. They claimed that the party’s national working committee had completed its term and was not reconstituted as required by the party constitution.
The rebel leaders then formed a new national working committee and elected Arup Roy as its chairperson. Several other senior leaders were given key positions, and the committee decided to appoint an independent auditor to review the party’s finances.The rebel camp says its committee is the legitimate leadership of the TMC and claims that around 60 MLAs and many councillors support it.
However, leaders loyal to Mamata Banerjee rejected the move. Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh called it a “comedy show” and said that TMC and Mamata Banerjee are inseparable. The Trinamool Congress is currently facing one of the biggest internal rebellions in its history. Earlier, many MLAs supported Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition against the candidate backed by Mamata Banerjee.
The crisis has also affected the party in Parliament. Around 20 of TMC’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs have left the party, joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), and extended support to the BJP-led NDA, reducing TMC’s strength in the Lok Sabha.
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