The situation for two factions of rebel Trinamool Congress lawmakers remains unresolved. In the West Bengal assembly, 62 legislators led by Ritabrata Banerjee and 20 Lok Sabha MPs under Sudip Bandyopadhyay are still waiting for their official recognition. This delay leaves both groups in a state of uncertainty regarding their political standing.
Rebel MPs submit petition to Lok Sabha speaker
Banerjee—who is the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal assembly—wants to be recognised as the Trinamool Congress, led by former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee . We have submitted all these documents. Our party president had come to Lok Sabha Speaker’s office. Now that the monsoon session is over, we are hopeful the speaker will soon take a favourable decision. Meanwhile, EC is yet to decide if Ritabrata-led faction is the real TMC. Also Read I Will Mamata Banerjee forgive TMC rebels? Party MP answers: ‘We are scared that she will… At this juncture, a question arises: Will Banerjee be able to forgive party rebels? TMC MP Dola Sen hinted that it might be a possibility. TMC crisis triggers talk of merger with Congress, the party Mamata had left in 90s
The 20 rebel MPs wants to merge with the nondescript Nationalist Citizens Party of India, which supports the National Democratic Alliance. On July 18, Birla allowed the merger of six former Sena (UBT) MPs with the Sena. Months after the 15-year rule of Trinamool Congress (TMC) ended in West Bengal, the party is facing internal churn, with its supremo Mamata Banerjee navigating herself and the party through the fractured power structure and a rebel faction.
There is no clarity when their issues will be resolved, according to officials. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar , the face of the rebel TMC MPs, told HT, “The speaker’s office had asked for additional documents such as the party’s registration with the Election Commission , details of the organisation and the record of the past elections fought by the party. The process of recognition of NCPI might be lengthy and depend on some external factors — including a pending case in the Supreme Court filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray against the Election Commission’s decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena , according to officials. Officials said the pending Sena case is also being closely watched by the poll body. The procedure to freeze the TMC’s two-flowers symbol has just started and officials are certain that one of the factions will go to court, according to an official. “It is better to wait for the court’s instructions and let the court decide on all issues related to symbol, party ownership, and assets,” said a functionary. Earlier reporting noted: “By nature, she generally forgives everyone,” Sen said, adding, “Rather, we are scared that she will forgive the traitors also, the renegades also.
Earlier reporting noted: Will Mamata Banerjee forgive TMC rebels? Earlier reporting noted: Also Read | Back to where it began?
