Decision of rebel group of TMC: Mamata Banerjee removed from the post of chairman, nephew Abhishek suspended from the party

Kolkata, June 22. A dramatic development took place on Monday amid the political crisis in Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) after losing power in West Bengal for one and a half decade, when the rebel group led by Uluberia East MLA Ritabrata Banerjee announced the suspension of Abhishek Banerjee from the party and the removal of Mamata Banerjee from the post of party president.

This decision was taken in an important meeting of the rebel camp, in which the leaders calling themselves the ‘real Trinamool Congress’ passed a resolution immediately after the formation of the new organizational committee and announced the suspension of Abhishek Banerjee.

Howrah Central MLA Arup Roy appointed as new chairperson

The rebel group has appointed senior MLA Arup Roy as the chairman of the newly formed organizational committee. The meeting of the Ritabrata faction was held at a hotel in New Town, which was attended by 70 councilors from three districts, including rebel MLAs and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). In this meeting, Howrah Central MLA Arup Roy was appointed as the new chairperson of the party in place of Mamata Banerjee.

The rebel group claims that this meeting was called due to ‘constitutional crisis’ within the party. Addressing the meeting, Ritabrata Banerjee said, ‘According to the party constitution, it is necessary to form a National Executive Committee every three years and the last time this committee was formed in February 2022. The organizational structure of the party was not reorganized after the tenure of the office bearers ended, hence it became necessary to initiate the process of restructuring the national leadership of the party.

If Mamata Banerjee wants, she can become our advisor – Ritabrata Banerjee

Regarding Mamata Banerjee, Ritabrata Banerjee said, ‘We have clearly said that if Mamata Banerjee wants, she can become our advisor. If she doesn’t want to, that’s fine. A total of 29 MLAs have been included in the National Working Committee of the new Trinamool Congress.

Mamata’s notice to MLAs in rebel group

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) has issued show cause notices to many of its senior leaders who joined the rebel camp. The party’s disciplinary committee has taken action against these leaders, accusing them of deliberately indulging in anti-party activities. The leaders to whom notices have been issued include Firhad Hakim, Arup Biswas, Arup Roy, Javed Khan, Rathin Ghosh, Biplab Mitra, Snehashish Chakraborty and Sabina Yasmin.

Kunal Ghosh said – ‘TMC means Mamta Banerjee, everything else is circus.‘

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee-led TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh said on the decision of the rebel group, ‘This is a comedy show. A person expelled from TMC has called a special session. The matter is in the court and we are sure that justice will be done. We do not give any importance to such ridiculous activities. TMC stands for Mamata Banerjee. Everything else is a circus.

Now TMC seems divided into three groups

After the latest developments, Trinamool Congress now seems divided into three groups. The first faction is the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee. The second group is Ritabrata Banerjee, who is now in the role of opposition in the Bengal Assembly, while the third group is of about two dozen Lok Sabha MPs led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who have decided to support the NDA government in Parliament by merging into a small political party named National Citizens Party.

Rebel MPs and rebel MLAs have different claims on the party’s name and symbol.

At the same time, after the suspension of Abhishek Banerjee, the question has deepened as to who has the real leadership and ideological stream of Trinamool Congress. The rebel MPs have indicated that they will approach the Supreme Court to lay claim to the party’s election symbol. Rebel MLAs have also staked their claim on the party’s name and symbol.

Situation unclear regarding party fund of Rs 1,100 crore

On the other hand, the situation is also not clear regarding who will have the rights over the party fund of about Rs 1,100 crore. Recently, following a police complaint by a group of rebel MLAs, debit freeze was imposed on funds worth Rs 440 crore deposited in three bank accounts of Trinamool Congress.