Ritabrata Banerjee-led TMC rebels to meet EC, stake claim on party symbol and funds
NEW DELHI: The power struggle within the Trinamool Congress is set to reach the Election Commission of India on Thursday, with the party's “rebel but majority” faction set to appear before the poll panel's full bench to stake its claim over the party's election symbol and funds.
The faction, led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee , had sought an audience with the Commission earlier. According to Ritabrata, the ECI has now scheduled a hearing in New Delhi where the rebel legislators will present their case. A delegation of 10 MLAs from the camp is leaving for the national capital on Wednesday evening for the meeting.
The dispute escalated after the rebel camp announced its own National Working Committee on June 22. The newly constituted body has 30 members and is supported by a 10-member sub-committee. In a significant move, the group removed Mamata Banerjee as the party's national chairperson and appointed senior MLA Arup Roy in her place.
The rival camp has since submitted resolutions and other legal documents to the Election Commission in support of its claim, arguing that it now represents the majority within the Trinamool Congress legislative party.
The numbers claimed by the two camps form the crux of the battle. The Trinamool Congress has 80 MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly. The rebel faction claims the backing of 60 legislators, while the remaining 20 continue with the “original and minority” faction led by Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee.
The fight is centred on who has the legal right to use the Trinamool Congress name and election symbol. Under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, a recognised regional party must secure at least six per cent of the valid votes polled and have a minimum of two MLAs to retain its symbol.
The faction, led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee , had sought an audience with the Commission earlier. According to Ritabrata, the ECI has now scheduled a hearing in New Delhi where the rebel legislators will present their case. A delegation of 10 MLAs from the camp is leaving for the national capital on Wednesday evening for the meeting.
The dispute escalated after the rebel camp announced its own National Working Committee on June 22. The newly constituted body has 30 members and is supported by a 10-member sub-committee. In a significant move, the group removed Mamata Banerjee as the party's national chairperson and appointed senior MLA Arup Roy in her place.
The rival camp has since submitted resolutions and other legal documents to the Election Commission in support of its claim, arguing that it now represents the majority within the Trinamool Congress legislative party.
The numbers claimed by the two camps form the crux of the battle. The Trinamool Congress has 80 MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly. The rebel faction claims the backing of 60 legislators, while the remaining 20 continue with the “original and minority” faction led by Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee.
The fight is centred on who has the legal right to use the Trinamool Congress name and election symbol. Under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, a recognised regional party must secure at least six per cent of the valid votes polled and have a minimum of two MLAs to retain its symbol.
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