Mamata Banerjee urges EC to conclude 'TMC dispute' inquiry without giving rival camp more time
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the Election Commissionof India (ECI) to conclude its inquiry into the dispute over the ownership of the Trinamool
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the Election Commissionof India (ECI) to conclude its inquiry into the dispute over the ownership of the Trinamool Congress' (TMC) name, poll symbol and organisational control, contending that the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee had failed to respond despite repeated extensions. In a letter addressed to ECI Secretary Ashwani Kumar Mohal on Wednesday (July 29, 2026), the TMC founder-chairperson said the party's rival group should not be granted any further opportunity. She said the commission should bring the proceedings to a close ‘as early as possible’ as the dispute has ‘serious political ramifications in West Bengal’. The letter marks the latest attempt by the Mamata Banerjee camp to press for an early adjudication in the battle that will determine which faction is recognised as the ‘real’ All India Trinamool Congress, and consequently, who will be entitled to its election symbol, organisational identity and control over party assets and funds. Referring to the commission's communication dated July 2, Ms. Banerjee said her camp had complied with the EC's direction and submitted its detailed response on July 6 within the stipulated deadline, despite having been given very little time. The former West Bengal Chief Minister pointed out that, in accordance with the commission's directions, a copy of the reply had been simultaneously served to the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, Mr. Ritabrata, through both email and speed post.
According to the letter, the ECI had, through its July 2 communication, also sought comments from Mr. Ritabrata on the representations concerning the recognised political party and directed him to file his response by July 6. The former CM said the commission subsequently extended the deadline till July 10 through a communication dated July 7. Thereafter, on Mr. Ritabrata’s request seeking an additional 15 days, the EC, by its July 13 communication, granted time till July 25. "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 since the rival faction had failed to respond despite being granted 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 asserted that there was now ‘no scope’ for the rival camp to build an entirely new case beyond the representations originally made to the commission on June 22. "In short, they cannot make out a new case other than the letters addressed by them on 22nd June 2026," Ms. Banerjee wrote. Questioning the repeated extensions granted to the rival faction, she alleged that the additional time could be used to fabricate supporting material.
The BriefWire