TMC submits response to EC, rejects rebel faction's claim as 'fraudulent'

Published 6 July 2026 · politics

The Mamata Banerjee-led group of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday (July 6, 2026) submitted its response to the Election Commission, rejecting the rival group's

The Mamata Banerjee-led group of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday (July 6, 2026) submitted its response to the Election Commission, rejecting the rival group's claim over the party and asserting that the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) organisational committees remain valid till 2027 under the party constitution. Speaking to reporters after submitting the response, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said the party had filed a "very detailed reply" to the Election Commission in response to a representation made by rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee. Rejecting the rebel faction's principal contention that the tenure of the AITC committee and Working Committee expired in 2025, Ms. Banerjee said the party constitution had been amended over the years to extend the tenure from three years to four years in 2000 and subsequently to five years in 2006, with the changes communicated to the Election Commission.

"The last organisational election was held in 2022. Therefore, automatically, the life of the AITC and Working Committee remains for a period of five years. It will expire in 2027," he said, adding that the allegation that the committee's tenure had ended in 2025 was "incorrect and not supported by the constitutional provisions" of the party. He also argued that the rebel leaders had themselves recognised the authority of the existing party leadership by contesting the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections on the TMC symbol using candidature papers signed by party chairperson Mamata Banerjee. "If they say the party ceased to exist after 2025, then on what basis did they contest the election? Their own argument would make their election illegal. They should resign immediately," Ms. Banerjee said.

The TMC leader further alleged that the rebel faction's June 22 "special session", in which it claimed to have reconstituted the party organisation, violated the AITC constitution. According to him, the party constitution envisages a multi-tier organisational process beginning at the block level, followed by district and state committees, before the AITC committee can be constituted. He alleged that these procedures were bypassed and that mandatory public notices and notices to MPs and MLAs were not issued. "There was no media notification, no proper circulation and no notice to ex officio members. The alleged AITC constituted by them is a great fraud on the AITC constitution itself," he said. Calling the rival group's actions a "completely fraudulent practice", Ms. Banerjee said the process adopted by the rebels was "non-est" and contrary to the party constitution.