The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is in the midst of a significant internal crisis, with two factions vying for control of the party. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has stepped in, asking both Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee to submit supporting documents to prove their claims to the party’s leadership by 5:30 pm on July 6.
The dispute began shortly after the TMC’s defeat in the April 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections which saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) come to power. The rift has since deepened, with both factions claiming legitimacy and control over the party’s resources and election symbol.
Ritabrata Banerjee’s Bold Move
Ritabrata Banerjee, a former Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP who later joined the TMC, has emerged as a key figure in the opposition. On June 3 he submitted a letter to the West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose nominating himself as the Leader of Opposition. This move defied the party’s official communication, which had designated Shovandeb Chattopadhyay a loyalist of Mamata Banerjee, for the role.
The letter was signed by 59 TMC MLAs exceeding the two-thirds majority required to establish a separate legislative identity. This bold move has intensified the power struggle within the party, with both factions now presenting their own lists of the TMC’s national executive committee members to the ECI.
Mamata Banerjee’s Response and the Frozen Bank Account
Mamata Banerjee, the founder of the TMC, has maintained her position as the party’s chairperson. However, Ritabrata’s faction has nominated Arup Roy for the same role. Notably, Ritabrata’s list does not include Mamata Banerjee or her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee who is the party’s second-in-command.
As the dispute over the party’s leadership and resources continues, the TMC’s bank account has been frozen. This financial standstill adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing crisis, with both factions eager to secure control over the party’s funds and election symbol.
The Election Commission’s Role and the BJP’s Alleged Support
On July 2 Ritabrata Banerjee met with the full bench of the ECI, accompanied by nine MLAs and a former minister. Following this meeting, the ECI issued a notice to both factions, asking them to submit their responses by July 6. The ECI’s decision will ultimately determine which faction is recognized as the legitimate representation of the TMC.
Ritabrata Banerjee has claimed that his faction enjoys the support of more than two-thirds of the party’s MLAs, corporators, councillors, and Zila Parishad members. He has also alleged that his faction has the backing of the ruling BJP in Bengal and the Union government. This claim, if true, could significantly influence the ECI’s decision.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction has accused the ECI of not functioning independently, suggesting that the poll panel is being directed by the BJP. This allegation adds a political dimension to the dispute, with the TMC’s future hanging in the balance.
