New Delhi, July 2: The battle for control of the Trinamool Congress intensified on Thursday, with the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction staking claim over the party before the Election Commission, even as the TMC questioned how the poll panel could grant an audience to leaders expelled by it.
A delegation led by Ritabrata Banerjee met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two Election Commissioners, a meeting the TMC said should not have taken place as only authorised signatories of a recognised political party could seek an appointment with the poll body.
“We are thankful that the full bench of the Election Commission gave us a patient hearing. We have made our points and are hopeful that the Election Commission will get back to us very shortly,” Banerjee told reporters after the meeting.
He said the faction had informed the commission in writing after holding a special organisational session in Kolkata on June 22 and had subsequently sought an appointment with the poll panel.
Without disclosing the documents submitted to the commission, Banerjee said the June 22 session was conducted by “abiding by all rules”. He expressed confidence that the Election Commission would examine the submissions and respond soon.
Reiterating the faction’s claim over the party, Banerjee said, “We are the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC). More than two-thirds of the MLAs are with us. Corporators, municipal councillors and Zila Parishad members are with us.” Projecting the rebellion as an ideological movement, he said the fight was “against an individual cult” and “ruthless dynastic politics” that had eroded the grassroots character of Trinamool Congress.
“My whole fight is against the individual cult and the ruthless dynastic politics that have slowly taken away the essence of the grassroots party. All people who believe in the same ideas have formed a collective, which opposes the individual cult. People of Bengal do not support dynastic politics,” Banerjee said.
“Arup Roy and Javed Khan are founder members of the party. This is a collective thought,” he added.
Asked if the rebel faction was aligning with the BJP, Banerjee replied, “We are against the BJP.” The TMC, however, dismissed the meeting itself as contrary to the Election Commission’s own procedures. (PTI)
