A new flashpoint emerged in the ongoing split within the All India Trinamool Congress on Friday after the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee assumed control of the party's headquarters at Kolkata's Metropolitan Building, further deepening the internal power struggle.
Leaders and supporters of the Ritabrata Banerjee camp entered the Metropolitan Building, declared it the legitimate headquarters of the Trinamool Congress and installed fresh banners identifying Arup Roy as the party's chairperson.
The development follows last month's directive asking the faction led by Mamata Banerjee to vacate the premises, which had functioned as Trinamool Bhavan since May 2022, after a dispute over the property's lease.
The move comes ahead of a crucial hearing before the Election Commission, where both rival factions are scheduled to appear on Monday to press their respective claims over the party's leadership, organisational control and election symbol.
Responding to the takeover, 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 political crisis within the Trinamool Congress escalated after 58 of the party's 80 MLAs broke away from the Mamata Banerjee-led leadership in the aftermath of the Assembly election defeat. The rebel legislators subsequently elected Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and named Arup Roy as the party's new chairperson.
With both camps set to present their arguments before the Election Commission, the contest for control of the Trinamool Congress is poised to enter a decisive phase in the days ahead.
