Mamata urges EC to conclude 'TMC dispute' inquiry without giving rival camp any more time

Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee urged the EC to conclude its inquiry into the dispute over the ownership of the TMC's name, poll symbol and organisational control, contending that the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee had failed to respond despite repeated extensions.

In a letter addressed to Election Commission secretary Ashwani Kumar Mohal on Wednesday, July 29, the TMC founder-chairperson said the party's rival group should not be granted any further opportunity.

She said the commission should bring the proceedings to a close "as early as possible" as the dispute has "serious political ramifications in West Bengal".

The letter marks the latest attempt by the Mamata Banerjee camp to press for an early adjudication in the battle that will determine which faction is recognised as the "real" All India Trinamool Congress, and consequently, who will be entitled to its election symbol, organisational identity and control over party assets and funds.

Referring to the commission's communication dated July 2, Banerjee said her camp had complied with the EC's direction and submitted its detailed response on July 6 within the stipulated deadline, despite having been given very little time.

The former West Bengal CM pointed out that, in accordance with the commission's directions, a copy of the reply had been simultaneously served to the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee, through both email and speed post.

According to the letter, the Election Commission had, through its July 2 communication, also sought comments from Ritabrata Banerjee on the representations concerning the recognised political party and directed him to file his response by July 6.

The former CM said the commission subsequently extended the deadline till July 10 through a communication dated July 7. Thereafter, on Ritabrata Banerjee's request seeking an additional 15 days, the EC, by its July 13 communication, granted time till July 25.

"Even after 25th July 2026, we have not been informed whether Shri Ritabrata Banerjee has submitted his reply or not, and if he has replied, no such copy has been provided to us. Therefore, it can be inferred that no reply has been submitted," the letter said.

She argued that since the rival faction had failed to respond despite being granted two extensions, "it can be inferred that all our submissions and statements pointed out in our letter dated July 6, 2026 have been admitted and they do not have any answer to that".

She further asserted that there was now "no scope" for the rival camp to build an entirely new case beyond the representations originally made to the commission on June 22.

"In short, they cannot make out a new case other than the letters addressed by them on 22nd June 2026," Banerjee wrote.

Questioning the repeated extensions granted to the rival faction, she alleged that the additional time could be used to fabricate supporting material.

"We firmly believe that because of the extension of time granted by you, Shri Ritabrata Banerjee and others are trying to create false evidence to develop their case since they do not have any merit in respect of their allegations which we have firmly disputed," the letter stated.

She also stressed that the proceedings before the Election Commission should ensure procedural fairness.

"There should be a level playing field for us to meet the grievances made by them... and for them to deal with our contentions. We humbly submit it would be inappropriate to give them any further extension after July 25, 2026," she wrote.

Seeking an early conclusion of the proceedings, Banerjee said, "Since the matter has serious political ramifications in West Bengal, I would request you to conclude the investigation as early as possible without providing them with any further date to submit their comments."

In a pointed concluding remark, she said, "Justice must be rooted through confidence, and if any further time after July 25, 2026 is given, that confidence is shaken."

The communication assumes significance as it comes at a politically sensitive juncture, with the Election Commission seized of rival claims over the recognised state party following the unprecedented split within the Trinamool Congress.

The commission's eventual decision is expected to determine which faction will retain the Trinamool Congress name and its election symbol, besides deciding the legitimate claimant to the party's organisational structure and financial assets -- a ruling that could fundamentally reshape the political landscape in West Bengal ahead of future elections.

The dispute stems from an intense power struggle between the faction led by Mamata Banerjee and the rebel camp headed by the LoP.

For the first time since the TMC was founded by Mamata Banerjee in 1998, a rebel faction replaced her as party chairperson, elected senior MLA Arup Roy to the post and unveiled a parallel leadership structure, taking the battle for control of the party from the legislature into its organisational core.

The organisational exercise comes amid an unprecedented crisis within the opposition party following its defeat in the assembly elections in May this year, which ended its 15-year rule in West Bengal.

The political crisis escalated after a majority of the TMC's MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee's claim to the post of Leader of the Opposition, rejecting the Mamata Banerjee camp's nominee Sovandeb Chattopadhyay. The legislative leadership dispute is presently pending before the courts.

Parallel to the court proceedings, both factions have approached the EC staking claim over the recognised political party, prompting the poll panel to seek detailed submissions from both sides before deciding which group represents the "real" Trinamool Congress under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order.