Shiv Sena-style split in Bengal? 58 MLAs back expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee

Expelled Trinamool Congress MLA Ritabrata Banerjee has made a significant political move, securing the backing of 58 legislators to propose himself as the new leader of the legislative party in West Bengal, while carefully maintaining allegiance to party supremo Mamata Banerjee.

Expelled TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee and a group of dissident legislators met West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose on Wednesday and submitted letters of support from 58 MLAs, sources said.

Proposed Leadership Change

The dissident camp also proposed a new leadership structure for the legislature party, with Banerjee as the leader and Akhruzzaman as the chief whip, according to sources. Several rebel legislators, including Chandranath Sinha and Shiuli Saha, accompanied Banerjee and Sandeepan Saha to the speaker's chamber in the assembly, where the documents were submitted.

Significant Political Signal

Sources said the support letters bear the signatures of 58 legislators, including Madhyamgram MLA Rathin Ghosh, who signed in favour of Banerjee before leaving the assembly premises.

In a significant political signal, the dissident lawmakers have described TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee as their "chairperson" in the communication submitted to the speaker, indicating that their revolt is aimed at the existing leadership structure of the legislature party rather than the party chief herself.

Legislators have also made it clear that they do not accept Abhishek Banerjee's authority in deciding the affairs of the legislature party.

The TMC leadership, however, dismissed the exercise as an act of betrayal. Senior party leader and MLA Kunal Ghosh said any differences could have been resolved through discussions within the organisation.

"If they had any issues, they could have discussed them within the party. Instead, they chose to backstab the party," he told reporters.

Describing the dissident legislators and their supporters as "traitors", he asserted that the TMC would overcome the crisis and remain united under Mamata Banerjee's leadership.

Wednesday's development had its roots in a meeting of newly elected MLAs at Mamata Banerjee's residence on May 6, where the legislators reportedly authorised the party leadership to decide the names for the leader of the opposition, deputy leader and chief whip.

The TMC subsequently informed the Assembly that Sovandeb Chattopadhyay would be the leader of the opposition, Nayana Bandyopadhyay and Ashima Patra deputy leaders, and Firhad Hakim the chief whip.

However, the Assembly secretariat did not act on the communication, citing procedural requirements that such office-bearers must be elected at a formal meeting of the legislature party.

The dispute escalated when dissident MLAs alleged that signatures appended to the communication sent to the Assembly secretariat had been misused. The party leadership rejected the charge and accused the rebels of attempting to weaken the organisation after its electoral setback.

The confrontation intensified earlier this week when Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha were expelled from the party.

Ironically, Ritabrata Banerjee, expelled by the TMC leadership, has emerged as the principal face of the revolt, while the inclusion of veteran leader Javed Khan, a trusted Mamata Banerjee associate since the party's formative years -- has lent the dissident camp additional political heft.

The developments have also fuelled questions about control of the opposition space in the Assembly. While only 30 MLAs are needed to stake claim to the post of Leader of the Opposition, the larger contest now appears to be over the legitimacy of the legislature party itself.