After the split in Trinamool Congress, the fight to capture the party office has started between the two groups. Ritabrata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress ‘captured’ the party office in Kolkata Metropolitan on Friday. Ritabrata Banerjee was accompanied by many MLAs including Firhad Hakim, Sandipan Saha, Javed Khan, Akhruzzaman. Everyone went and sat in that office. Akhruzzaman said that Trinamool sentiments are attached to this office. Ritabrata Banerjee had gone to Delhi on Thursday and held a meeting with the entire bench of the Election Commission.
Real Trinamool Who is who, has become a big question in the politics of the state since the announcement of the assembly election results. A group of MLAs under the leadership of Ritabrata had declared rebellion within the party. Since then, divisions have started in the party.
Ritabrata group captured the party office
Both the parties are demanding ‘real’ Trinamool. In such an environment, Ritabrata’s supporters ‘captured’ the party office on Friday. He locked the gate outside the building. As soon as the news was received, Kunal Ghosh of Kalighat Trinamool reached the office. This party office is in the assembly constituency of Kunal Ghosh.
Ritabrata and his group leaders had formed ‘Trinamool’ National Working Committee by removing Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee in a meeting held in a hotel in New Town on June 21. In that meeting, Howrah Central Assembly MLA Arup Roy was elected Trinamool chairman. On Friday, Ritabrata had brought a placard with him. Arup Roy’s name was written on that placard as Trinamool Chairman. That placard was hung outside the Trinamool office in Metropolitan.
Earlier, MLAs of Ritabrata faction had marched to Delhi on Thursday, claiming to be the ‘real’ Trinamool. Ritabrata said that he had sought time from the commission to give information about the new working committee. In response to the question to which camp the party’s symbol and funds will go, Ritabrata said, “There is no question of any debate in this. Two-thirds of the party’s MLAs are with us. Former ministers are with us. Councilors are with us, Zilla Parishad members are also with us.”
Election Commission has sought answers
By the way, who will control Trinamool? The National Election Commission has written to Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata’s group on the basis of their demands and counter-demands. He has sought answers from both of them by Monday, July 6. It has been said that you will have to submit your statements and documents by 5:30 pm on Monday evening.
Amidst the ongoing tussle over symbol, name and party funds, a tussle has also started over ‘occupying’ the Trinamool office. Akhruzzaman said, “We are Trinamool. This is our office. The sentiments of Trinamool are attached to this office.” He also said that he had spoken to the owner. Issues related to rent have also been discussed. Kalighat Trinamool alleges that the state government and police are behind this ‘capture’. Mamata Banerjee faction’s MLA Kunal Ghosh said about this, “The culture of occupation is going on. A man expelled from BJP with the direct support of the government and the police has become the B team.”
There are pictures and cutouts of Mamata Banerjee everywhere in the party office of Metropolitan. However, the Ritabrata faction did not touch those photographs. He clearly said that he wants Mamata as his advisor. He told that he wants to move forward keeping Mamta at the forefront. However, Kalighat supporter Trinamool has started opposing such ‘occupation’. He has come to free the party from encroachment. Meanwhile, a large number of police have been deployed in front of the party office.
Clash at party office
For the last few days, confusion has arisen regarding this office of Metropolitan in Kolkata. The building where this Trinamool headquarters was located is owned by Manotosh Saha, better known as Montu Saha. Montu’s company ‘Modern Decorating’ used to get the contract to build stages for all the programs of Trinamool till the elections.
Even the big stage installed in Dharmatala on 21st July was built by Modern Decorating only. However, after the election results came out, the chemistry between Montu and Trinamool changed. Montu demanded Trinamool to vacate the building. He claimed that despite repeated requests, Trinamool was not vacating the building. After contacting Montu on Friday, Ritabrata Shibir took over the head office.
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