Calcutta HC admits petition challenging Ritabrata Banerjee's LoP recognition
Synopsis
West Bengal's political crisis has reached the courts. With 60 TMC MLAs backing an expelled legislator as LoP, 20 holding firm with Mamata, a CID probe into forged signatures, and now a High Court petition — the battle over who leads the opposition in the state assembly is far from settled.
Key Takeaways
A petition filed by Sovandeb Chattopadhyay was admitted by the Calcutta High Court on 8 June , challenging the Speaker's recognition of Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition.
The matter is listed for hearing before Justice Krishna Rao on 11 June .
Of TMC's 80 MLAs in the 294-seat West Bengal Assembly , 60 back Ritabrata 's bloc and 20 remain with Mamata Banerjee .
A CID probe is underway into alleged signature mismatches in the original resolution nominating Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as LoP.
Speaker Rathindra Bose accepted the rival bloc's fresh resolution, formally recognising Ritabrata Banerjee as the official Leader of the Opposition.
A petition challenging West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose's decision to recognise expelled All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition was admitted by a single-judge vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court on Monday, 8 June. The bench of Justice Krishna Rao admitted the petition, with the matter likely to come up for hearing on 11 June.
Background: The TMC Split
TMC currently holds 80 seats in the 294-seat West Bengal Assembly. Of these, 60 legislators have aligned with the new bloc led by Ritabrata Banerjee, while the remaining 20 continue to support former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The fracture was triggered after Ritabrata Banerjee and fellow legislator Sandipan Saha flagged alleged signature mismatches in a resolution submitted to the Speaker's office — a resolution that had nominated veteran legislator Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition, Asima Patra and Nayna Bandopadhyay as the two deputy leaders, and Firhad Hakim as Chief Whip of the TMC legislative party.
The Suspension, Revolt, and Speaker's Recognition
TMC swiftly suspended both Ritabrata and Sandipan after the signature dispute became public. In a counter-move, 60 legislators led by Ritabrata submitted a fresh resolution to the Speaker, claiming to represent the majority bloc within the TMC legislative party. Speaker Rathindra Bose accepted that resolution and officially recognised Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition.
The Petition and Who Filed It
The petitioner is Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, the veteran TMC legislator who had originally been nominated as Leader of the Opposition by both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. His petition directly contests the Speaker's authority to accept the rival bloc's resolution and grant Ritabrata the official LoP designation.
CID Probe Underway
A Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe is already underway into the alleged signature mismatches in the original resolution. The investigation was initiated following the complaints raised by Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, adding a criminal dimension to what is already a complex constitutional and legislative dispute.
What Happens Next
The Calcutta High Court is expected to hear the matter on 11 June. The outcome could determine whether the Speaker's recognition of Ritabrata Banerjee as LoP stands, and may have significant implications for the balance of power within the TMC legislative party in the West Bengal Assembly.
Point of View
The intra-party war could escalate into a criminal proceeding. This is no longer just a factional dispute — it is a test of how far a Speaker's discretion extends when a recognised party is in open civil war with itself.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was a petition filed in the Calcutta High Court over the West Bengal LoP?
Veteran TMC legislator Sovandeb Chattopadhyay filed the petition challenging Speaker Rathindra Bose's decision to recognise expelled TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as the official Leader of the Opposition. Chattopadhyay had been nominated for the post by both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, but the Speaker accepted a rival resolution from a breakaway bloc of 60 MLAs.
Who is Ritabrata Banerjee and why was he expelled from TMC?
Ritabrata Banerjee is a TMC legislator who was suspended by the party after he and fellow MLA Sandipan Saha flagged alleged signature mismatches in a resolution nominating Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as LoP. Following his suspension, he led a revolt of 60 TMC MLAs who submitted a fresh resolution to the Speaker claiming majority status within the legislative party.
What is the CID probe about in the West Bengal TMC dispute?
The Criminal Investigation Department is probing alleged mismatches in the signatures of certain TMC legislators on the original resolution submitted to the Speaker's office. The mismatches were flagged by Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, prompting the investigation.
When will the Calcutta High Court next hear the petition?
The matter is expected to come up for hearing before Justice Krishna Rao on 11 June, after the single-judge vacation bench admitted the petition on 8 June.
How many TMC MLAs are in each faction in the West Bengal Assembly?
TMC holds 80 seats in the 294-seat West Bengal Assembly. Of these, 60 MLAs are aligned with Ritabrata Banerjee's breakaway bloc, while 20 continue to support Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee.
