ECI seeks response from Mamata, Ritabrata Banerjee on TMC dispute by July 6
Synopsis
The Election Commission of India has formally drawn both Mamata Banerjee and rebel TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee into a legal showdown over who controls the party name and symbol. With rebels claiming two-thirds of MLAs and the Mamata camp citing her own signatures on ECI affidavits, the July 6 deadline could set the stage for one of West Bengal's most consequential intra-party rulings.
Key Takeaways
The Election Commission of India has sought responses from Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee by 5:30 pm on 6 July over rival claims on TMC organisational elections and authorised signatories.
A 10-member rebel delegation met the ECI's full bench on 2 July , asserting that more than two-thirds of West Bengal TMC MLAs are with the Ritabrata faction.
The rebel camp held a special convention on 22 June , naming legislator Arup Roy as new party chairperson and Akhruzzaman as treasurer, replacing Mamata Banerjee .
The Mamata camp's legislator Kunal Ghosh countered that the rebels' own ECI affidavits bore the signatures of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee .
The ECI's ruling on the dispute could have significant implications for West Bengal politics ahead of future elections.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued formal notices to All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee and expelled party leader Ritabrata Banerjee, seeking their responses by 5:30 pm on 6 July over competing claims on organisational elections and authorised signatories. The notices, confirmed by official sources on Thursday, 2 July, mark a significant escalation in the internal power struggle tearing through one of India's most prominent regional parties.
Rebel Faction's Case Before the ECI Full Bench
The ECI's letters coincided with a direct representation by the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction before the Commission's full bench on Thursday. A 10-member delegation of rebel legislators met the full bench in the afternoon, arguing that their numerical strength entitles them to the party's name and election symbol.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ritabrata said the question of separately demanding the party name and symbol did not arise. 'More than two-thirds of the party MLAs in West Bengal are with us. Most of the former ministers in the previous Trinamool Congress cabinet in West Bengal are on our side. The majority of councillors of different municipal corporations and municipalities are with us. The majority of Zilla Parishad members in different districts are with us. So, what is our need to raise the demand separately for the right over the party name and election symbol?' he said.
Special Convention and New Office-Bearers
Ritabrata also informed the Commission that on 22 June, the rebel faction organised a special convention of party delegates, at which veteran legislator Arup Roy was nominated as the new party chairperson, replacing former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Legislator Akhruzzaman was named the new party treasurer. According to Ritabrata, the Commission was notified of the convention the following day.
Mamata Camp Hits Back
The faction loyal to Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee dismissed the rebel delegation's claims. Party legislator Kunal Ghosh, a prominent voice from the Mamata-aligned camp, described the rebel meeting with the ECI as hollow.
'Trinamool Congress cannot exist without Mamata Banerjee. All the workers and supporters are with her. Those who are claiming to be the 'real Trinamool Congress today', the affidavit they gave to the Commission two months back had the signatures of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee on two specific forms. This is like a tenant claiming to be the owner of the house today,' Ghosh said.
What Happens Next
Both factions must now submit written responses to the ECI by 6 July. The Commission's adjudication will hinge on evidence of organisational elections, delegate strength, and the validity of the authorised signatories — the same legal battleground that determined the outcomes in earlier intra-party disputes before the ECI. The verdict could reshape West Bengal's political landscape ahead of future electoral contests.
Point of View
Contested dispute — not a frivolous claim. The rebel camp's invocation of numerical superiority mirrors the playbook used in the Shiv Sena and NCP splits, where headcounts of elected representatives became the decisive metric. What is unusual here is the Mamata camp's counter-argument: that the rebels' own ECI filings carried Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee's signatures, potentially undermining the rebels' claim to independent organisational legitimacy. The July 6 deadline will force both sides to put documentary evidence on the table — and the Commission's response to that evidence will be the real story.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the ECI issued notices to Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee?
The Election Commission of India has sought responses from both leaders by 6 July over competing claims on the All India Trinamool Congress's organisational elections and authorised signatories. Two rival factions — one led by Mamata Banerjee and another by expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee — are each asserting the right to the party's name and election symbol.
What is the rebel TMC faction claiming before the ECI?
The Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction claims that more than two-thirds of TMC MLAs in West Bengal, most former ministers from the previous TMC cabinet, and the majority of municipal councillors and Zilla Parishad members are with them. They argue this numerical majority entitles them to the party name and election symbol.
Who did the rebel faction appoint as new TMC chairperson?
At a special convention held on 22 June, the rebel faction nominated veteran legislator Arup Roy as the new party chairperson, replacing Mamata Banerjee. Legislator Akhruzzaman was named the new party treasurer.
How has the Mamata Banerjee camp responded to the rebel claims?
Legislator Kunal Ghosh, speaking for the Mamata-aligned faction, said the rebels' own affidavits submitted to the ECI two months ago carried the signatures of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, calling the rebel claim contradictory. He maintained that all TMC workers and supporters remain with Mamata Banerjee.
What happens after the July 6 deadline?
Once both factions submit their responses by 5:30 pm on 6 July, the Election Commission will evaluate the documentary evidence — including organisational election records and authorised signatory claims — before adjudicating which faction holds the legitimate claim to the TMC name and symbol.
