Trinamool rebel MLAs to approach ECI over rival NWC claim
Synopsis
West Bengal’s TMC is now fighting a two-front battle at the Election Commission. A rebel majority faction has formed a rival National Working Committee, ousting Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee from its leadership, and plans to file for ECI recognition the moment the budget session ends — a move that could decide who controls India’s most powerful regional party in its home state.
Key Takeaways
A rebel faction of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs, led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee , will approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) after the West Bengal budget session to claim legitimacy of a new National Working Committee (NWC) .
The rebel NWC excludes Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee ; former minister Arup Roy has been named chairperson in place of Mamata Banerjee.
The Mamata-aligned faction has already submitted its own communiqué to the ECI , asserting the original NWC’s legitimacy.
The rebel camp cites a signed resolution from Monday’s meeting as a legal document establishing majority support.
The ECI ’s ruling will determine which faction controls the party name and symbol, with precedents set in the Shiv Sena and NCP disputes.
A rebel faction within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislative party in the West Bengal assembly, describing itself as the “majority” grouping and led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, has announced it will approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) to stake the legitimacy of a new National Working Committee (NWC) formed by it — one that excludes both former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The move is expected immediately after the conclusion of the ongoing West Bengal budget session.
The Rival NWC Claims
The rebel faction announced its new NWC on Monday, naming senior legislator and former minister Arup Roy as chairperson, replacing Mamata Banerjee in that role. Former minister Aroop Biswas was appointed vice-chairman, alongside MLAs Firhad Hakim and Rathin Ghosh. Ritabrata Banerjee, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha, and Sabina Yasmin were named general secretaries, with Akhruzzaman appointed treasurer.
Within hours of that announcement, the faction loyal to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee — which describes itself as the “original” committee — forwarded its own communiqué to the ECI, asserting the legitimacy of the existing NWC with Mamata Banerjee as national chairperson and Abhishek Banerjee as general secretary.
What the Rebel Camp Is Arguing
A legislator from the rebel grouping said the resolution passed at Monday’s meeting carries the genuine signatures of all leaders present and constitutes a legal document. “The resolution of the meeting on Monday, where the new NWC was formed with majority support, has the genuine signatures of all leaders present. This resolution copy is a legal document, and on the basis of that, we will be claiming legitimacy of the new NWC,” the legislator said.
The faction contends it commands a numerical majority within the TMC legislative party in the assembly, a claim the Mamata-aligned camp contests.
Why the ECI Is the Battleground
Under India’s anti-defection law and party dispute jurisprudence, the Election Commission of India holds authority to adjudicate rival claims over a recognised political party’s name, symbol, and internal structure. This makes the ECI the decisive forum when two factions within the same party each assert organisational legitimacy. The commission has previously ruled on such disputes in cases involving the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), setting significant precedent for how majority claims within a legislative party are weighed.
What Happens Next
Both factions are now in a race to consolidate documented support before the ECI takes up the matter. The rebel camp has indicated it will file its claim as soon as the budget session concludes, while the Mamata-aligned faction has already submitted its paperwork. The commission’s decision on which NWC it recognises could have far-reaching consequences for the party’s future in West Bengal, including control over the party symbol ahead of any future elections.
Point of View
Backed by signed resolutions, pitted against an incumbent leadership’s paperwork. What distinguishes this from those cases is the target: Mamata Banerjee is not just a party chief but the sitting Chief Minister and the singular electoral brand of West Bengal politics. The rebel faction’s ability to claim majority support within the legislative party is significant, but majority in the assembly wing and majority in the broader organisational structure are two different things the ECI will scrutinise. The real question is whether this is a genuine power challenge or a pressure tactic ahead of internal negotiations — and the ECI timeline will force that answer into the open.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Trinamool Congress rebel MLAs approaching the Election Commission of India?
The rebel faction, which claims to be the majority grouping within the TMC legislative party, is approaching the ECI to have its newly formed National Working Committee (NWC) recognised as the legitimate party body. The NWC it formed on Monday excludes Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, and the faction argues a signed resolution from that meeting constitutes a legal basis for its claim.
Who leads the rebel Trinamool Congress faction?
The rebel faction is led by expelled TMC legislator Ritabrata Banerjee. The new NWC it formed names former minister Arup Roy as chairperson, with Aroop Biswas as vice-chairman and Ritabrata Banerjee, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha, and Sabina Yasmin as general secretaries.
What has the Mamata Banerjee-aligned TMC faction done in response?
The Mamata-aligned faction, which describes itself as the original party structure, has already submitted a communiqué to the ECI asserting the legitimacy of the existing NWC, with Mamata Banerjee as national chairperson and Abhishek Banerjee as general secretary.
What authority does the ECI have in a party dispute like this?
The Election Commission of India has the power to adjudicate rival claims over a recognised political party’s name, symbol, and internal structure. It has previously ruled on similar disputes involving the Shiv Sena and NCP, making it the decisive forum for determining which faction represents the official party.
When will the rebel TMC faction file its ECI claim?
The rebel faction has said it will approach the ECI immediately after the conclusion of the ongoing West Bengal budget session. No specific date has been announced, as the filing is contingent on the session’s end.
