No further extension to rebel camp: Mamata urges EC to end TMC control dispute
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has asked the Election Commission to conclude its inquiry into the dispute over the ownership of the Trinamool Congress
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has asked the Election Commission to conclude its inquiry into the dispute over the ownership of the Trinamool Congress name, election symbol and organisational control, saying the rival faction led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee had failed to respond despite repeated extensions. In a letter addressed to Election Commission secretary Ashwani Kumar Mohal on Wednesday, the TMC founder-chairperson said the rival group should not be given any further opportunity and urged the poll panel to bring the proceedings to a close "as early as possible" because the matter has "serious political ramifications in West Bengal". Read Full Story The letter is the latest push from the Mamata Banerjee camp for an early ruling in the contest that will decide which faction is recognised as the "real" All India Trinamool Congress, and who will be entitled to its poll symbol, organisational identity, assets and funds. The communication has come at a politically sensitive time, with the Election Commission examining rival claims over the recognised state party after an unprecedented split within the Trinamool Congress. Referring to the commission's communication dated 2 July, Banerjee said her camp had complied with the EC's direction and filed its detailed response on 6 July within the deadline, despite having been given very little time. She said that, in line with the commission's directions, a copy of that reply was also served to Ritabrata Banerjee through both e-mail and speed post.
According to her letter, the EC had also asked Ritabrata Banerjee to submit his comments on the representations concerning the recognised political party by 6 July. Banerjee said the commission later extended that deadline to 10 July through a communication dated 7 July. She added that, after Ritabrata Banerjee sought another 15 days, the EC granted time till 25 July by a communication dated 13 July. "Even after 25th July 2026, we have not been informed whether Shri Ritabrata Banerjee has submitted his reply or not, and if he has replied, no such copy has been provided to us. Therefore, it can be inferred that no reply has been submitted," the letter said. She argued that, as the rival factions had not responded even after two extensions, "it can be inferred that all our submissions and statements pointed out in our letter dated 6th July 2026 have been admitted, and they do not have any answer to that." She further said there was now "no scope" for the rival camp to construct an entirely new case beyond the representations originally made before the commission on 22 June. "In short, they cannot make out a new case other than the letters addressed by them on 22nd June 2026," Banerjee wrote. Questioning the repeated extensions granted to the rival faction, Banerjee alleged that the additional time could be used to create supporting material. "We firmly believe that because of the extension of time granted by you, Shri Ritabrata Banerjee and others are trying to create false evidence to develop their case since they do not have any merit in respect of their allegations which we have firmly disputed," the letter stated.
The BriefWire