The Trinamool Congress moved the Calcutta High Court challenging Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose’s decision recognising rebel MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition instead of Sovandeb Chattopadhyay. The Court has scheduled the matter for hearing on June 11 amid escalating political tensions.
The ongoing political turmoil within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has now reached the Calcutta High Court, with the party challenging West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose’s decision to recognise rebel MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition instead of senior TMC leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay.
The matter was mentioned before the Bench of Justice Krishna Rao by advocate Sirsanya Banerjee. Chattopadhyay, who has approached the Court as the petitioner, has questioned the legality of the Speaker’s decision. The High Court has scheduled the matter for hearing on June 11.
The dispute emerges from a major rebellion within the TMC, which has witnessed significant internal divisions in recent months. The crisis intensified after a group of legislators led by Ritabrata Banerjee challenged the authority of the party leadership and claimed support from a substantial section of the party’s elected representatives.
The political confrontation escalated when 58 of the TMC’s 80 MLAs reportedly extended support to Ritabrata Banerjee and formally staked claim to be recognised as the principal opposition bloc in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The development marked one of the most serious internal challenges faced by the party since its formation nearly three decades ago.
The rebel faction argued that it represented the majority of the party’s legislative strength and was therefore entitled to recognition within the Assembly. The claim was placed before Speaker Rathindra Bose, who subsequently examined the matter and delivered a ruling that significantly altered the political landscape of the State Assembly.
After considering the claims and counterclaims, the Speaker accepted the contention of the rebel camp and recognised Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition.
In arriving at his decision, the Speaker reportedly concluded that the expulsions of Ritabrata Banerjee and fellow rebel legislator Sandipan Saha were not valid under the provisions of the party’s constitution. On that basis, he held that the two legislators continued to remain members of the party and that the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee had the requisite numerical strength to claim recognition.
The ruling effectively shifted the balance of power within the Assembly and dealt a significant blow to the official TMC leadership.
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The Trinamool Congress has strongly objected to the Speaker’s decision and has now sought judicial intervention. The party contends that Ritabrata Banerjee was expelled from the organisation and therefore could not legally be recognised as the Leader of the Opposition. According to the TMC, the Speaker’s interpretation of the party constitution is flawed and inconsistent with the party’s internal disciplinary framework.
Through its petition, the party is expected to argue that a person who has ceased to be a member of the party cannot claim leadership of the opposition benches merely on the basis of support from certain legislators. The challenge is also likely to focus on the legality of the Speaker’s determination regarding the validity of the expulsions.
The High Court’s decision could have significant consequences for the functioning of the Assembly and the future of the ongoing political dispute.
While the legal battle unfolds, Ritabrata Banerjee has remained cautious about commenting on possible future political developments.
Banerjee said:
“I have not spoken to any parliamentarians in the last seven days. So I can’t say what parliamentarians would do. But I live in the now. Nobody can say what will happen tomorrow. Have patience. A lot can happen.”
The statement has fuelled speculation about possible shifts in political alignments within the party and beyond.
Earlier, Banerjee had asserted that more than two-thirds of the TMC’s elected legislators had backed his faction. He maintained that the Speaker had rightly recognised his group as the “principal opposition” in the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly on the basis of its numerical strength.
The present dispute is widely viewed as a manifestation of deeper fault lines within the Trinamool Congress. Founded by Mamata Banerjee nearly 28 years ago, the party has rarely witnessed a rebellion of this magnitude.
Political observers have linked the revolt to growing tensions over the influence exercised by Abhishek Banerjee within the organisation. Several members of the rebel camp have projected their movement as a challenge to what they describe as increasing centralisation of authority within the party structure.
At the same time, the dissident group has continued to express respect for Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and has frequently referred to her as a guiding figure. This dual approach has revealed differences even within the rebel faction regarding the future direction of the movement.
The June 11 hearing before the Calcutta High Court is expected to be closely watched, as it will determine whether the Speaker’s decision can withstand judicial scrutiny.
The outcome could have far-reaching implications not only for the recognition of the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly but also for the broader political future of the Trinamool Congress. With competing claims of legitimacy, questions over party discipline, and a deepening internal power struggle, the case has become one of the most significant constitutional and political disputes currently unfolding in West Bengal.
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