Bengal Assembly a 'House of Monologues', says LoP Ritabrata Banerjee
Synopsis
West Bengal's Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee has accused the TMC-led state government of turning the Assembly into a 'House of Monologues' — and backed it with a damning claim: that Bengal's legislature has logged the lowest sitting days in the country for 15 consecutive years. His faction now says it has 65 TMC MLAs behind it and is not merging with anyone.
Key Takeaways
Ritabrata Banerjee , West Bengal's Leader of Opposition, called the state Assembly a 'House of Monologues' on Tuesday .
He alleged the West Bengal Legislative Assembly has had the lowest number of sitting days in the country for the past 15 years .
The Business Advisory Committee agreed to a six-hour discussion on the Governor's Address and a ten-hour discussion on the Budget.
Banerjee claimed his breakaway faction has the support of 65 TMC MLAs and called it the 'real Trinamool.' He ruled out any merger with another political party.
West Bengal's Leader of Opposition and expelled All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Ritabrata Banerjee on Tuesday declared that the West Bengal Legislative Assembly has degenerated into a 'House of Monologues,' calling on all sides to restore meaningful dialogue in the interest of democracy. His remarks came on the sidelines of a Business Advisory Committee meeting in Kolkata.
Key Allegations Against 15 Years of TMC Rule
Banerjee alleged that over the past 15 years, the West Bengal Legislative Assembly has recorded among the fewest sitting days of any state legislature in the country. 'It is shameful that for the last 15 years the number of working days of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly has not only been below the national average; it is the lowest in the country,' he said.
He further criticised the brevity of legislative discussions under the Mamata Banerjee-led government, arguing that sessions lasting '30 minutes, 40 minutes, or one hour' fall far short of what democratic deliberation demands.
What the Business Advisory Committee Decided
Following Tuesday's Business Advisory Committee meeting, Banerjee announced that concrete steps had been agreed upon to extend floor time. According to him, a six-hour discussion on the Governor's Address and a ten-hour discussion on the Budget have been scheduled. He urged the Speaker to devise a mechanism ensuring the Assembly is no longer ranked last among state legislatures on working days.
The Opposition's Democratic Argument
'A democracy is only successful when dialogue decisively defeats monologue. So, we are confident, the Opposition is set, the House belongs to the Opposition,' Banerjee asserted. He maintained that restoring substantive debate is not merely a procedural matter but a constitutional imperative — one that the ruling dispensation has, in his view, systematically neglected.
Banerjee's Faction Claims 65 TMC MLAs
Separately, Banerjee reiterated that his breakaway faction commands the support of 65 Trinamool Congress MLAs and represents the 'real Trinamool.' He ruled out any merger with another political party, signalling that his group intends to operate as an independent force within the Assembly. This comes amid continued uncertainty over the political future of expelled TMC legislators in the state.
The developments point to a sharper Opposition offensive in the upcoming budget session, with Banerjee positioning his faction as the primary check on the ruling TMC government in the Assembly.
Point of View
Giving the allegation more traction than a typical Opposition soundbite. The more consequential question is whether his faction of 65 claimed MLAs represents a durable realignment or a temporary pressure tactic ahead of the budget session. If the Business Advisory Committee's extended discussion timelines are actually enforced, it would mark a structural shift; if they are not, Banerjee's rhetoric risks becoming its own monologue. Either way, the episode signals that the TMC's internal fractures are now playing out on the Assembly floor, not just in party corridors.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ritabrata Banerjee call the Bengal Assembly a 'House of Monologues'?
Banerjee used the phrase to criticise the lack of substantive debate in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, arguing that discussions have been cut short and that the house has recorded the lowest sitting days in the country for 15 years. He urged the Speaker to ensure longer, more meaningful floor discussions.
What did the Business Advisory Committee decide?
According to Banerjee, the Business Advisory Committee agreed on Tuesday to schedule a six-hour discussion on the Governor's Address and a ten-hour discussion on the Budget, marking a significant extension of floor time compared to recent sessions.
How many MLAs does Ritabrata Banerjee's faction claim to have?
Banerjee claimed his faction has the support of 65 Trinamool Congress MLAs and described his group as the 'real Trinamool.' He also stated that his faction will not merge with any other political party.
What is Ritabrata Banerjee's current political status?
Ritabrata Banerjee is an expelled Trinamool Congress leader who currently serves as West Bengal's Leader of Opposition. He leads a breakaway faction that he claims represents the authentic TMC and operates independently within the state Assembly.
How does West Bengal's Assembly record compare to other states?
According to Banerjee, the West Bengal Legislative Assembly has not only fallen below the national average for sitting days over the past 15 years but has ranked last among all state legislatures in the country — a charge that, if verified, would represent a significant democratic deficit.
