TMC Moves Calcutta High Court Against Ritabrata Banerjee's LoP Status In Bengal Assembly

Published 8 June 2026 · politics

TMC Moves Calcutta High Court Against Ritabrata Banerjee's LoP Status In Bengal Assembly Published By, Last Updated: June 08, 2026, 17:58 IST The TMC contended

TMC Moves Calcutta High Court Against Ritabrata Banerjee's LoP Status In Bengal Assembly Published By, Last Updated: June 08, 2026, 17:58 IST The TMC contended that Speaker Rathindra Bose's decision to appoint Ritabrata Banerjee as LoP was contrary to established parliamentary norms and procedures. Rapid Read File image of TMC founder Mamata Banerjee and LoP Ritabrata Banerjee. (Source: PTI) The embattled Trinamool Congress (TMC) has moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the West Bengal Assembly Speaker’s decision to appoint rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition instead of the Mamata Banerjee-led faction’s choice. The matter will be taken up before a single-judge bench of Justice Krishna Rao on June 11. The case follows a split within the TMC, when 58 out of the party’s 80 MLAs broke ranks with the party to back Ritabrata as the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal.

According to reports, the TMC contended that Speaker Rathindra Bose’s decision to appoint Ritabrata Banerjee as LoP was contrary to established parliamentary norms and procedures and sought a judicial review of the Speaker’s decision and recognition of the Mamata-led faction’s nominee, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay. ALSO READ: Mamata’s Biggest Setback Yet? Kakoli Ghosh Claims 20 TMC MPs Wrote to LS Speaker Seeking NDA Entry In an unprecedented political development in West Bengal on June 4, Ritabrata Banerjee staked claim to the post of LoP with the backing of 58 MLAs, despite having been expelled from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) just two days ago. Sandipan Saha, another expelled MLA, was recognised as Assistant Leader of the Opposition. This came hours after TMC formally notified veteran leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay would serve as the Leader of the Opposition.

It also named Ashima Patra and Nayana Bandopadhyay as Deputy Leaders of the Opposition, while Firhad Hakim was appointed Chief Whip. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said the Speaker’s decision to recognise Ritabrata Banerjee as LoP violated parliamentary procedures and applicable rules. The Speaker defended his decision, reportedly observing that Ritabrata Banerjee’s faction possessed the requisite numerical strength. The immediate trigger was a dispute over a party resolution submitted on May 6. Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha alleged that their signatures, along with those of several other TMC legislators, were forged on a document naming the party’s Leader of Opposition, Deputy Leader and Chief Whip in the Assembly. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18.