TMC bank account freeze row: LoP Ritabrata Banerjee backs Aroop Biswas' demand
Synopsis
A ₹675 crore bank account has become the latest battleground in the Trinamool Congress's post-election meltdown. Former treasurer Aroop Biswas has formally asked a private bank to freeze the party's funds, and the Leader of the Opposition — himself part of a 58-MLA rebellion — has publicly backed the move, turning an internal party feud into a financial and potentially regulatory crisis.
Key Takeaways
Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee on 18 June publicly backed ex-TMC treasurer Aroop Biswas 's demand to freeze the party's bank account.
Aroop Biswas wrote to a private bank on 12 June seeking a halt on all withdrawals from the TMC's account at its Central Plaza branch ; the letter was received on 16 June .
The TMC account reportedly holds deposits worth ₹675 crore , according to the party's audit report filed with the Election Commission of India .
The dispute follows a 5 June organisational reshuffle in which former MP Subhasish Chakraborty was named new treasurer, replacing Biswas — a change Biswas contests.
Around 58 MLAs have reportedly rebelled against the TMC leadership, with analysts saying Banerjee is positioning his faction as the 'real' Trinamool Congress.
Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee, on Thursday, 18 June publicly backed former Trinamool Congress (TMC) treasurer Aroop Biswas, who has written to a private bank seeking an immediate freeze on the party's bank account holding deposits worth ₹675 crore. The move deepens an already volatile leadership dispute within the TMC following its Assembly election defeat.
What Ritabrata Banerjee Said
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Banerjee was unambiguous in his support. 'Aroop Biswas' letter has substance. What guarantee is there that there is no stolen money or embezzled money in this account? I support the request to freeze Trinamool's account,' he stated.
Political analysts say Banerjee's intervention is calculated. With around 58 MLAs having rebelled against the party leadership, the Leader of the Opposition is reportedly positioning his camp as the 'real' Trinamool Congress — a claim that now has tangible financial stakes attached to it.
Aroop Biswas' Letter to the Bank
Biswas, a former TMC minister and the party's outgoing treasurer, wrote to the Central Plaza branch of a private bank on 12 June, though the letter was received by the bank only on 16 June. In it, he requested bank authorities to halt all withdrawals and maintain the status quo in the account until the ongoing leadership and control dispute within the party is resolved.
Biswas flagged that rival groups were asserting themselves as the legitimate representatives of the TMC, creating confusion over who was authorised to operate the account. He also sought safeguards against the misuse of cheques he had signed in advance, urging the bank to prevent any unauthorised transactions.
The Organisational Reshuffle That Triggered the Dispute
The flashpoint came on 5 June, when the TMC announced an organisational reshuffle in the wake of its Assembly election defeat. The party named former MP Subhasish Chakraborty as the new treasurer, replacing Biswas. However, Biswas has contested this, asserting in his bank communication that he continues to hold the position of party treasurer.
The account in question, according to the party's audit report submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI), holds deposits worth ₹675 crore — a sum that underscores why control over it has become a central front in the intra-party battle.
What This Means for the TMC Crisis
This is the most direct financial salvo yet in what has been a widening fracture within the TMC. The dispute has moved beyond internal party processes — it now involves a formal banking request, a public endorsement from the state's Leader of the Opposition, and competing claims of legitimacy that the bank will be forced to adjudicate or escalate to appropriate legal channels.
Notably, this is not merely an organisational tiff: with 58 MLAs reportedly in rebellion and a ₹675 crore account at the centre of competing claims, the crisis has the potential to trigger regulatory and legal scrutiny of the party's finances. The ECI's role, given that the audit report was filed with it, may also come into focus in the days ahead.
Point of View
Backed by the Leader of the Opposition from within the same party's rebel camp, signals how far the TMC's internal collapse has progressed. What began as a post-election reshuffle on 5 June has, within a fortnight, escalated into a financial standoff with ₹675 crore in the balance. The deeper question mainstream coverage is underplaying: if the ECI received the party's audit report citing this account, does it now have a responsibility to step in? The banking dispute may force a legal or regulatory answer to the political question of who actually controls the Trinamool Congress.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the TMC bank account freeze row significant?
Former Trinamool Congress treasurer Aroop Biswas has formally requested a private bank to freeze the party's account, which holds deposits worth ₹675 crore according to the party's own audit report filed with the Election Commission. The move, backed publicly by the Leader of the Opposition, signals that the TMC's internal leadership dispute has now spilled into financial and potentially regulatory territory.
Who is Aroop Biswas and why did he write to the bank?
Aroop Biswas is a former TMC minister who served as the party's treasurer until a 5 June organisational reshuffle named Subhasish Chakraborty as his replacement. Biswas contests the change, asserting he remains treasurer, and wrote to the bank on 12 June to prevent unauthorised withdrawals and protect against misuse of cheques he had pre-signed.
What did Ritabrata Banerjee say about the freeze demand?
Addressing a press conference on 18 June, Banerjee said: 'Aroop Biswas' letter has substance. What guarantee is there that there is no stolen money or embezzled money in this account? I support the request to freeze Trinamool's account.' Political analysts say his backing is part of an effort to position his rebel faction as the legitimate TMC.
How many MLAs have rebelled against the TMC leadership?
Around 58 MLAs have reportedly rebelled against the Trinamool Congress party leadership, according to political analysts. This rebellion forms the backdrop to Ritabrata Banerjee's public support for the bank account freeze demand.
What happens next in the TMC bank account dispute?
The private bank must now decide whether to comply with Biswas's freeze request or seek legal clarity on who is authorised to operate the account. Given that the Election Commission of India received the party's audit report citing this account, regulatory scrutiny of the dispute may also follow.
