Ritabrata Faction Seizes Control of Trinamool Headquarters Amid Intensifying Power Struggle
Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee led a group of MLAs to occupy the TMC main office in Kolkata, escalating the internal party split. The move coincides with a legal battle for the party name and symbol currently pending before the Election Commission.
Headquarters Hostilities Erupt in Kolkata
The internal fragmentation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) spilled onto the streets of Kolkata on July 3, 2026, as a rebel faction led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee forcibly occupied and locked the party’s Metropolitan bypass headquarters. Flanked by prominent MLAs including Firhad Hakim, Sandipan Saha, Javed Khan, and Akhruzzaman, Banerjee asserted that his group represents the authentic core of the organization. He justified the takeover by citing ongoing negotiations with the building’s owner regarding rental arrangements.
Competing Claims and Legal Friction
Loyalists to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived shortly after to contest the occupation. Party members Kunal Ghosh and Baishwnar Chatterjee confronted the rebel camp, maintaining that their faction holds a valid lease agreement through October 2027. The confrontation highlighted a sharp divide in political legitimacy within the state:
- Rebel Stance: Banerjee’s camp installed banners featuring newly elected chairperson Arup Roy while retaining photos of Mamata Banerjee to claim continuity.
- Loyalist Response: Baishwnar Chatterjee dismissed the takeover as an illegal act, vowing a courtroom defense, while Kunal Ghosh accused the rebels of operating as a surrogate for the BJP with state police assistance.
- Legislative Math: Having secured the Leader of Opposition role on June 3 with 58 MLAs, the Ritabrata faction now claims the backing of 65 out of the party’s 80 legislators.
Election Commission Intervention Looms
The physical seizure of the headquarters follows a high-stakes meeting between the rebel faction and the Election Commission (EC) in Delhi. The EC has since issued formal inquiries to both camps, demanding clarification on organizational elections and authorized signatories to determine which group holds the rights to the party name. Meanwhile, the office building's owner, Monotosh Saha—whose firm previously handled TMC campaign logistics—has shifted his stance since the assembly elections, actively seeking the return of his property following a breakdown in relations with the traditional party leadership.
Source: The Hindu — Home
