Can Trinamool rebels oust Mamata? What the party constitution says
Two different "national working committees" of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have been formed over the past three days. While one of them mentioned former West
Two different "national working committees" of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have been formed over the past three days. While one of them mentioned former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the Chairperson, the other one, formed by the rebel faction, chose to "oust" her from the top party post. The dissident camp on Tuesday approached the Election Commission (EC) with the formal claim of being the "real TMC." The move has paved the road for a long-drawn legal battle. Mamata, her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, and their loyalists will have to fight the existential threat on multiple fronts. Read Full Story Their mission will be to save the party, its symbol and funds. But what does the TMC's constitution say about the formation of a Working Committee (NWC) and the election of the Chairperson? WHAT HAPPENED ON JUNE 22 As per sources, on June 22, the TMC informed the EC about the reconstitution of its Working Committee. It had 24 members, including Mamata, Abhishek, Derek O'Brien, Dola Sen, Mahua Moitro and Kunal Ghosh. Notably, even the criteria for women representation, as mandated by the party constitution, were almost achieved in the list. The document was signed by Mamata on June 22, with the names of the NWC members reflecting the composition as of June 20. The EC was informed about the reconstituted panel. The dissident camp, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, met in a hotel on June 22, and decided to reconstitute the Working Committee of the TMC.
While the list of their "new NWC" is not in public domain, it is claimed to have 30 members. Moreover, they chose Arup Roy as the Chairperson of the party. Roy wants Mamata to play the role of an "adviser." Notably, the TMC constitution, which the EC has on record, and the latest version signed by former minister Chandrima Bhattacharyya in March this year mentions the rules for formation of the NCW, election of the Chairperson and the powers of both. While the rebel MLAs claimed to have reconstituted one of the most powerful units of the TMC — which also happens to control the Trusts under which the party’s assets and funds are held — the party's constitution might find them at fault. As per the document, the NWC should have 20 members. "The Working Committee shall consist of the Chairman/Chairperson of the All India Trinamool Congress, and 19 (Nineteen) other members, of whom 9 (Nine) members will be elected by the AlTC (All India Trinamool Congress) Committee, as per rules prescribed by the Working Committee, and the rest shall be appointed by the Chairman /Chairperson," Article 12.A of the TMC's constitution states. The Chairperson has the right to nominate over 50 per cent members to the NWC. Hence, the process clearly necessitates the TMC Committee to elect 9 members. "Was any such voting done?" Mamata loyalists have asked. Moreover, the leader of the Parliamentary party and all leaders of the Legislative parties in the respective States "shall be e officio members of the Working Committee with full voting rights." The TMC Chairperson has the powers to appoint a Treasurer and General Secretaries from among NWC members.
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