In West Bengal, internal conflicts within the Trinamool Congress are intensifying, creating a ‘symbol war’ between two factions. One faction is led by the Leader of Opposition, Ritabrata Banerjee, while the other remains loyal to the former chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, who has recently lost her position. This division highlights the ongoing power struggle within the party as members align themselves with different leaders amidst the shifting political landscape.
To settle the tug-of-war, the Election Commission has held meetings with representatives from both sides in New Delhi.
The Commission said it will arrange a hearing on Thursday if necessary. Both camps lay claim to the control of the party and the use of the ‘ jora phool (two flower)’ election symbol that had been Mamata Banerjee’s hallmark since she broke away from the Congress to start her own party. In a letter to the former chief minister, the EC stated that it has heard the views of the camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee alongside a delegation from Kalighat, the stronghold of Mamata Banerjee, used as a metonym for her camp. Another leader from the same camp, Kunal Ghosh, came down heavily on Ritabrata Banerjee, saying that the Trinamool is not anyone’s personal property. “He cannot make any comment like the Trinamool is anyone’s personal property. “Where does the Trinamool stand now? Trinamool is finished.
Wednesday is also the last day for filing nominations for by-elections to the state’s two vacant assembly seats, including Nandigram, where Banerjee had lost to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in a closely fought contest in 2021.
They are backstabbing Mamata Banerjee, who has built up the party,” said Ghosh. Putting the split within the Trinamool to a political advantage for the BJP, West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul asserted that the Mamata Banerjee-led party stands “finished”. We know what will happen in both Rejinagar and Nandigram bypolls,” she said. Ritabrata Banerjee, who sprang a surprise by taking control of the opposition outfit in the West Bengal assembly, said he had gone through the EC letter to her former boss.
