TMC rift: 60 rebel MLAs back expelled leader as LoP, but want Mamata as head

With the backing of 60 legislators, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha would comfortably cross the two-thirds threshold required under the anti-defection law. This could potentially allow their faction to stake a claim to the TMC's name and symbol if a formal split occurs and Mamata Banerjee rejects their proposal.

In Short

• Ritabrata is proposed as new Leader of Opposition by rebel TMC faction
• He was expelled for anti-party activities after allegations of forged signatures
• Ritabrata and Sandipan seen meeting multiple TMC MLAs, hinting at new group

Expelled Trinamool Congress MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha have submitted a letter claiming the support of 60 MLAs while reaffirming Mamata Banerjee as the party's leader. The letter, signed by 58 MLAs with two more expected to sign, also proposes Ritabrata's name for the post of Leader of the Opposition.

The move is being seen as an attempt to corner Abhishek Banerjee, whom Ritabrata has repeatedly accused of running the party like a corporate entity. It is also likely to put Mamata Banerjee in a bind, forcing her to choose between her nephew and the majority of the party's legislators.

Following the West Bengal Assembly election, the TMC was left with 80 MLAs. With the backing of 60 legislators, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha would comfortably cross the two-thirds threshold required under the anti-defection law. This could potentially allow their faction to stake a claim to the TMC's name and symbol if a formal split occurs and Mamata Banerjee rejects their proposal. It also gives the rebels a moral high ground, allowing them to avoid the ignominy of being seen as wresting control of the party from Mamata Banerjee, who founded it.

With the party having 80 legislators in the Assembly, the two-thirds mark stands at 53 MLAs. Sources further said that the rebels have no plans to form a new party.

Ritabrata was one of the two legislators expelled by the party for anti-party activities on Monday, just 15 minutes after West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, at a press conference, revealed his name and said that the Speaker had received a formal complaint from the rebel leader.

Ritabrata, along with Sandipan Saha, had alleged that the signatures of several TMC MLAs, including their own, were forged on the party's resolution document naming the Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Leader, and Chief Whip on May 6.

A day after being expelled from the party, the two leaders were seen in contact with multiple TMC MLAs. Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha reportedly met several party legislators at the MLA Hostel in Kolkata, fuelling speculation that a "new group" could be taking shape within the TMC.

Speaking to India Today earlier, Ritabrata Banerjee had openly challenged the leadership of Abhishek Banerjee. A key point of contention appears to be the younger Banerjee's role in the party, particularly with regard to IPAC.

On Monday, TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh alleged that the expelled duo were attempting to split the party and had held a secret meeting with some MLAs at a hotel in south Kolkata.

With a rebellion raging on one front, another intriguing development unfolded as three TMC MLAs who had attended Mamata Banerjee's rally on Tuesday -- Ashok Deb, Nayna Bandopadhyay and Kunal Ghosh -- were seen at an administrative review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna. Ghosh was spotted entering the building carrying a file.

However, as TMC chief Mamata Banerjee appeared at her first public rally since her party was ousted in the recently held elections, only eight of the party's 80 legislators -- mostly members of the old guard -- turned up. Interestingly, all three MLAs who attended Adhikari's meeting today had also attended Mamata Banerjee's rally earlier.

A day earlier, during a Facebook Live session, she had described Ritabrata as "unprincipled" and a "betrayer." Today, as Ritabrata's car pulled up outside the West Bengal Assembly, he told reporters that the party had been "hijacked by I-PAC and no longer belongs to Mamata Banerjee."

Ritabrata also acknowledged meeting some MLAs at the MLA Hostel and said he had shared puffed rice with them. When asked whether more than 50 MLAs were backing him, he told reporters that he preferred to "live by the day."

He further rejected the TMC's claim that a unanimous resolution had been adopted to elect Shobandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition, alleging that he had merely signed an attendance sheet.

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Inputs from Anupam Mishra