Suspended and later expelled Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Ritabrata Banerjee is at the centre of a major internal TMC rupture in West Bengal, with multiple reports saying the conflict is the party’s biggest split to date. On June 3, the West Bengal Assembly Speaker officially recognizes Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, following a move that supporters of the rebel faction describe as a reorganisation of opposition leadership. Times of India reports that a group of 58 rebel MLAs backs this bid and that the revolt comes after a significant electoral defeat and is followed by changes inside the TMC’s organization.
Mamata Banerjee-led TMC factions contest the Speaker’s decision. Mint and Times of India report that the TMC has approached the Calcutta High Court to challenge the recognition, including questioning the legality of Banerjee’s appointment as Leader of the Opposition. Mint also reports that the court has sought to examine the grounds of the appointment. The developments leave the ruling party and its internal rivals in a standoff, with political authority in the Assembly now under judicial review.
