EC begins hearing in TMC split, seeks replies from both factions

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress divide is now officially a 'symbol' dispute over the 'real' TMC that will be decided by the Election Commission with the latter writing to both former CM Mamata Banerjee and rival faction leader Ritabrata Banerjee, ET has learnt.

The poll panel, sources said, has mentioned the claims and counter claims by both factions with respect to organisational elections/ authorised signatories of the Trinamool Congress in its communication and sought responses of both factions by 5:30 pm on July 6.

The ECI communication comes days after a simmering divide erupted within the party over the twin-flower symbol and ownership of the party funds and both rival factions moving the poll panel. The fissures have arisen following a rout in the recent assembly elections which has brought the BJP to power in the state for the first time.


Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee, who led a 10-member delegation of the dissident faction of Trinamool Congress to meet the ECI in New Delhi on Thursday, staked his faction's claim for the twin-flower symbol and ownership of party funds. CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the ECI bench gave them a patient hearing and assured them that they would be updated soon, sources said.

After meeting the ECI, Ritabrata told media persons, "We met the full bench of the ECI. We have more than two-thirds of the party MLAs in West Bengal with us. Most of the former ministers in the previous Trinamool cabinet, majority of the councillors of different municipal corporations and municipalities and zilla parishad members in different districts are with us. What is our need to raise a demand separately for the right over the party name and election symbol?"

"We have given all the documents and papers related to the June 22 National Working Committee meeting," the new chairperson of the dissident TMC, Arup Roy, said.

Responding to the meeting, Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool MP and advocate Kalyan Banerjee said, "ECI also has its Constitutional duty and they have given time. We have already filed a caveat and have faith in the judiciary. NWC has no right except Mamata Banerjee." Trinamool legislator Kunal Ghosh, said, "Trinamool Congress cannot exist without Mamata Banerjee. All the workers and supporters are with her. This is like a tenant claiming to be the owner of the house today," Ghosh said.