A five-member delegation representing the rebel faction of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, arrived at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in Delhi on Saturday for a meeting with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Five leaders join delegation for hearing
The delegation includes Ritabrata Banerjee, Akhruzzaman, Arup Roy, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Riju Datta.
Banerjee heads 60 of 80 MLAs
Banerjee heads a faction of around 60 of the 80 newly elected TMC MLAs who distanced themselves from former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the party’s defeat to the BJP in the Assembly elections held in April.
Both factions claim Trinamool leadership
Both factions have staked claim to being the “real” Trinamool Congress and have approached the Election Commission seeking recognition as the party’s legitimate leadership.
Party symbol and funds spark dispute
The dispute centres on the party’s name, election symbol and funds. On Wednesday, the ECI wrote to Banerjee regarding representations received in connection with the ongoing dispute between the Mamata Banerjee-led faction and the group led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
