Ritabrata-Led Rebel TMC Leaders Seize Party Headquarters In Kolkata, Put Up Posters Sans Mamata

Kolkata: The power struggle within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) intensified on Friday as the rebel faction MLAs led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee seized control of the party's headquarters ‘Trinamool Bhavan’ in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Notably, the rebel MLAs installed posters at the office that did not bore the image of TMC chief and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The dissidents locked the gates of the office and installed new banners naming Arup Roy as the chairperson, entirely omitting Mamata Banerjee's face.

However, the picture of Mamata Banerjee that were already present in the office were not displaced.

Locks Changed

According to the Mamata Banerjee-led faction, the rebels changed the locks of the office hate and locked the premises in front of the police.

The rebels, including senior leaders like senior leaders Firhad Hakim, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha and Akhruzzaman, also held a meeting inside the office. During the meeting, the rebels asserted that they represent the “real” Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Ritabrata Banerjee said:

“We are the Trinamool Congress. This is our headquarters.”

Notably, the rebel faction has the support of more than 2/3rd majority, with more than 60 of the TMC's total of 80 MLAs on its side.

Police Complaint Filed Against ‘Trespassers’

TMC MLA Kalyan Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the rebel TMC MLAs for ‘taking control’ of the party headquarters. “They are criminal trespassers, they started the game and we will finish it," he stated, adding that his faction will take the matter to the court.

TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh said that a formal police complaint has been launched against those who trespassed into Trinamool Bhavan and put a lock on it. “There was absolutely no need to put a lock on the premises. Furthermore, expelled members have no right to enter the party office. We had made a request to the police regarding this. We could have easily broken the lock they installed, but we refrained from any illegal or irresponsible actions. Although we had appealed to the police, they allowed the intruders to lock the premises and then stood guard to protect that lock. When we asked the police to facilitate entry, the local police, RAF, and central forces simply stood there. This is a major conspiracy to damage the Trinamool party...The people of Bengal and Trinamool workers are watching everything.”

TMC MP Saugata Roy called the apparent seize “completely wrong and unlawful”. “We will look into the matter. We will initiate civil and criminal action against this,” he added.

TMC leader and advocate Baiswanor Chattopadhyay said that the expelled TMC leaders intend to carry out illegal activities in the office.

The internal crisis within the TMC was triggered following a landslide defeat of the party in the state Assembly elections, where it won just 80 out of 294 seats and lost power after ruling over West Bengal for 15 years.

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