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Members of the Ritabrata faction entered the Metropolitan Building, claimed it as the legitimate TMC headquarters and put up new banners naming Arup Roy as the party’s chairperson.
The dramatic takeover comes just days before both rival factions are scheduled to appear before the Election Commission on Monday to stake their claim over the party’s leadership, organisational control and election symbol.
A fresh political showdown unfolded in Kolkata on Friday as the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) took control of the party’s headquarters at the Metropolitan Building, escalating the power struggle within the party.
Members of the Ritabrata faction entered the Metropolitan Building, claimed it as the legitimate TMC headquarters and put up new banners naming Arup Roy as the party’s chairperson.
Mamata Banerjee’s faction was asked to vacate the premises, which served as Trinamool Bhavan since May 2022, last month, following a lease dispute.
The dramatic takeover comes just days before both rival factions are scheduled to appear before the Election Commission on Monday to stake their claim over the party’s leadership, organisational control and election symbol.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, “If any MLA of the party needs to come to the party office, it is their right to do so. Why are these locks being put up?… When Trinamool workers are being attacked and need support, these people do not go to their constituencies. Instead, they have become puppets in someone else’s hands and are doing all this.”
The crisis within the Trinamool Congress intensified after 58 of the party’s 80 MLAs split from the Mamata Banerjee-led leadership following the Assembly election defeat. The rebel legislators subsequently elected Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and announced Arup Roy as the party’s new chairperson.
With both camps preparing to present their case before the Election Commission, the battle for control of the Trinamool Congress is expected to enter a crucial phase in the coming days.
About the Author
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
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