Who owns the real TMC? Election Commission set to decide high-stakes battle
NEW DELHI: The battle for control of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is set to enter a decisive phase on Monday, with the rival camps led by West Bengal former CM Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee expected to submit documents before the Election Commission (EC) to stake claim over the party’s name, election symbol, organisational structure and assets.The confrontation marks one of the biggest political crises in the party’s 28-year history and is expected to determine which faction will be recognised as the ‘real’ Trinamool Congress.The Election Commission has directed both camps to submit organisational records, supporting documents and evidence of control over the party by 5.30 pm on July 6, after hearing preliminary submissions from both sides last week.
Battle over symbol, headquarters and organisational control
At the centre of the dispute is the TMC’s iconic grass-and-flowers election symbol, along with the party’s organisational assets, finances and headquarters, all of which have become subjects of competing claims following an escalating rebellion after the party’s defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections.The Mamata Banerjee-led faction is expected to rely on the party’s founding legacy, organisational continuity and existing structure. The rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee is expected to argue that it enjoys majority support among elected representatives and therefore represents the legitimate leadership.The crisis, which began as a legislative revolt, has now evolved into a full-fledged organisational battle.Last month, the rebel camp convened a special session, elected senior MLA Arup Roy as its chairperson and announced a parallel national leadership structure, claiming that the existing leadership had lost the confidence of the majority of elected representatives.The dissident faction first demonstrated its strength when 58 of the TMC’s 80 MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee’s claim to the post of Leader of the Opposition instead of the candidate supported by Mamata Banerjee. The faction now claims it has the support of around 65 MLAs.The rebellion has also spread to Parliament. 20 Lok Sabha MPs, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, aligned themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), weakening Mamata’s position in Parliament and strengthening the dissidents’ claim of political legitimacy.
Trinamool Bhavan takeover escalates dispute
The organisational battle intensified further on Friday when the Ritabrata-led faction took control of Trinamool Bhavan, the party’s operational headquarters in Kolkata.The rebel leaders changed the locks, installed fresh posters and declared that the office would now function as their organisational headquarters.The takeover came a day after the faction met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two Election Commissioners in New Delhi to press its claim over the party’s leadership, symbol, organisational structure and assets.”We have gathered all documentary evidence and will place it before the commission. We are confident the decision will be based on facts, numbers and organisational legitimacy,” a senior leader of the Ritabrata camp said.The Mamata Banerjee camp has strongly objected to the rebels’ claims, arguing that leaders expelled from the party cannot represent it before the Election Commission.Senior leaders from the Kalighat camp are expected to present their counter-claims before the poll panel on Monday.A senior leader from the Mamata Banerjee faction said the party’s organisational structure remained intact despite the rebellion.”The TMC was built by Mamata Banerjee and continues to be led by her. A temporary numerical shift among some elected representatives cannot erase the party’s organisational continuity or its connection with workers and supporters across Bengal,” the leader said.The dissident camp, however, maintained that the dispute would ultimately be decided by the ‘test of majority’.”We have compiled all documentary evidence and are ready to place it before the commission. The facts and numbers speak for themselves. We have nothing to fear from a transparent process,” another senior leader of the rebel faction said.
Mamata Banerjee confident of retaining party symbol
Speaking during a Facebook Live interaction on Saturday, Mamata Banerjee dismissed concerns over the party symbol and expressed confidence that the faction would retain it.”I don’t care about the party symbol, although I know they won’t be able to snatch it away. They will not succeed since I will dangle the symbol from my neck and reach out to the people. Many have betrayed the party and walked away. They won only because I signed on their nomination papers. At the BJP’s behest, they have betrayed the party,” she said.In an apparent reference to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, she added, “But even if they use ‘Vanish Kumar’ to snatch away the party symbol, they will not be able to silence my voice. Individuals may leave, but an institution does not cease to exist.”
Background: How the crisis began
The dispute intensified after the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction approached the Election Commission seeking recognition as the legitimate Trinamool Congress and staking claim over the party’s name and election symbol.The crisis has deepened steadily since the TMC’s defeat in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections.On Friday, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction accused the rival camp of illegally taking over Trinamool Bhavan and lodged a police complaint alleging criminal trespass.TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee described the dissidents as ‘criminal trespassers’ and warned that the party would pursue legal action. “They are criminal trespassers. They started the game and we will finish it. We will go to court,” he said.Senior leaders, including Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra, accused the police and central forces of allowing the rebel faction to occupy the office and alleged that the dissidents were acting at the BJP’s behest.Meanwhile, the Ritabrata Banerjee faction maintained that it had completed all formalities with the owners of the premises and declared that Trinamool Bhavan would function as its organisational headquarters.With both camps now claiming control over the party’s organisation, assets and symbol, Monday’s submissions before the Election Commission are expected to mark the beginning of a crucial legal and political battle that could determine who carries forward the legacy of the Trinamool Congress. Go to Source
