There is a period of political conflict in West Bengal. Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is facing setbacks after the defeat in the assembly elections, is facing the challenge of saving its existence. Internal differences in Trinamool are deepening. The tussle between the opposing groups continued to assert their rights over the party. A comment by the Lower Court and a hearing by the Calcutta High Court further fueled this controversy.
The lower court’s comment was in favor of the Ritavrat Banerjee faction, after which the faction claimed that they have been recognized as the real authority of Trinamool and Arup Roy has been made the only authorized person to handle the party’s work. Ritavrat said yesterday that in a case filed by Trinamool workers, the Alipore Court has made it clear that only the committee formed on June 22 is legally valid. However, on the court’s comment, the opposition group says that the matter is still pending in the court and it should not be given a political colour.
Real party’s claim wrong: Saugata Roy
Senior TMC leader Saugata Roy rejected the rebel group’s claim of being the “real” party and said that Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool is the real party. Roy said, “Mamata Banerjee herself founded the Trinamool Congress and it was she who transformed this party from an opposition group to the ruling party of the state.” He said that the claims of the opposing group have no meaning.
He also said that this controversy is being made into a farce. He termed the entire controversy as a “joke” and a “circus” and accused the rebel group of trying to gain attention through party offices and public controversy.
Party funds should be returned: Ghosh
Party leader Kunal Ghosh intensified his attack on the rebel leaders, alleging that they had benefited from the party’s support during the elections and now they are questioning the structure of the same party. Ghosh said that the rebel MLAs had won on the basis of Trinamool’s election symbol and financial help from the party. He alleged that Sandipan Saha spent more than Rs 27 lakh on the election campaign, including Rs 25 lakh spent from the party account.
Ghosh said, “He became MLA for the first time with the party’s election symbol and its funds and today he is demanding an investigation into the same account.” He also accused the rebel leaders of “backstabbing” behavior and demanded the return of the money.
Both groups claim validity of election symbol
Responding to the criticism from the Mamata faction, Sandipan Saha of the Ritavrat Banerjee faction said that the lower court order is known to everyone and argued that if anyone else uses the TMC logo then action will be taken against him. He said that the Upper Court order was not in favor of the old faction and insisted that the Ritavrat faction represents the real Trinamool. Saha also raised questions on the procedures adopted by the leadership of the opposition group and said that the issue cannot be resolved through political pressure alone.
The legal and political battle has now become a major test of control over the party’s identity, with both sides claiming the validity of the organisation’s mandate and its election symbol. Since the matter is sub-judice, leaders of both factions have used the court’s comments to publicly accuse each other as well as strengthen their political arguments.
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