NEW DELHI: The power struggle within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) escalated on Saturday after party MP Dola Sen lodged police complaints against the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction, accusing it of forgery, criminal impersonation and circulating false documents in the name of the All India Trinamool Congress.Sen submitted complaints to the Pragati Maidan and New Town police stations, alleging that the dissident group illegally used the party’s name, election symbol and branding while organising meetings with former Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) councillors.”I most respectfully request you to register a First Information Report (FIR) forthwith on the basis of this written complaint for the aforesaid cognizable offences under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and other applicable laws and conduct a prompt, fair, and thorough investigation into this serious matter, including taking all necessary steps for the preservation and collection of electronic and other evidence as detailed hereinabove,” Sen wrote in her complaint.The complaints allege criminal impersonation, forgery, cheating by personation and circulation of false documents and electronic communications in the name of the All India Trinamool Congress. They also accuse the rebel camp of holding unauthorised meetings while using the party’s official symbol and identity.The complaints came hours after the Ritabrata Banerjee-led breakaway faction held its second meeting within a week with former TMC councillors. According to sources, 47 former councillors attended the gathering at a private banquet hall in Kolkata’s Topsia area to discuss preparations for the upcoming civic polls and rebuilding the party’s organisation after its defeat in the recent assembly elections.Like the previous meeting held on June 22 in New Town, banners at Saturday’s event displayed the TMC’s grass-and-twin-flower symbol and the name “All India Trinamool Congress”, but did not feature photographs of party supremo Mamata Banerjee.Defending the dissident camp, expelled TMC MLA and deputy leader of the opposition in the Assembly Sandipan Saha asserted the group’s legitimacy.”We are the real Trinamool Congress. We have the numbers and are the principal opposition in the state assembly. There can be no question about our legitimacy. We have constituted our national working committee and will soon announce our political programmes,” Saha said.Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, who has also been expelled from Mamata Banerjee’s TMC, attended the meeting along with Saha, underscoring the rebel faction’s organisational push.Sources said discussions focused on formulating a strategy for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections, expected later this year following the completion of ward delimitation. The leaders also discussed extending legal assistance to party councillors and workers who have been arrested since the BJP came to power in West Bengal.Responding to the rebellion, senior TMC leader and MP Mahua Moitra dismissed the challenge and said the party’s electoral support remained firmly with Mamata Banerjee.”The rebel MLAs are more preoccupied with legal and organisational disputes than with political battle. Mamata Banerjee personally created the TMC symbol, and the party’s electoral support is based on her leadership rather than individual leaders. The votes received by the party belong to Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, and that any symbol endorsed by her would receive public support,” Moitra said.”The mandate of over 2.6 crore voters in favour of Mamata Banerjee remains intact despite recent defections. The departure of some councillors, MLAs, or MPs does not diminish the party’s public mandate. The party’s support base will remain unaffected by the exit of a limited number of elected representatives,” she added.The latest confrontation comes weeks after the West Bengal government dissolved the Kolkata Municipal Corporation board following the resignation of former mayor Firhad Hakim, transferring administrative powers to an appointed administrator ahead of the civic elections.
