Kolkata, 02 July (H.S.): The battle for control of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has entered a crucial phase, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking detailed responses from both the Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee factions over their rival claims concerning the party's organisational leadership and authorised signatories.

In separate communications issued on Thursday, the Commission asked both camps to submit their written responses by 5:30 p.m. on July 06 regarding the claims and counterclaims over the party's organisational elections and authorised representatives.

The development came shortly after a delegation led by Ritabrata Banerjee met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two Election Commissioners in New Delhi. During the meeting, the rebel faction claimed to represent the real Trinamool Congress and submitted documents relating to the party's organisational elections, authorised signatories, and its claim over the organisation.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Ritabrata Banerjee said a special organisational session of the party had been held in Kolkata on June 22, following which the Election Commission was informed in writing. He said the faction had first submitted relevant documents to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata before seeking an appointment with the Election Commission.

Banerjee said the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners gave the delegation a patient hearing and that the group's submissions had been placed before the Commission in detail. While refusing to disclose the documents submitted, he maintained that the June 22 organisational session was conducted strictly in accordance with the prescribed rules and procedures.

Reiterating his faction's position, Ritabrata Banerjee claimed that his group represented the real Trinamool Congress. He asserted that more than two-thirds of the party's MLAs, along with a large number of municipal councillors and corporators, were backing his faction. He also stated that informing the Election Commission after holding an organisational session was part of the prescribed process and that his faction had completed all required formalities.

The Ritabrata Banerjee camp has already submitted documents before both the Election Commission and the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata, staking its claim over the party's organisational structure, the twin-flower election symbol, and the party's official identity. The faction maintains that it enjoys the support of a majority of the party's legislators and office-bearers and should therefore be recognised as the legitimate organisational and legislative wing of the Trinamool Congress.

The Mamata Banerjee faction, however, has strongly rejected these claims, maintaining that Ritabrata Banerjee and his associates are not authorised representatives of the party and therefore have no legal authority to represent the Trinamool Congress before the Election Commission.

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy questioned the Commission's decision to grant an audience to the rebel faction. He said the Election Commission had earlier informed all recognised political parties that only authorised signatories could seek appointments with the Commission. Roy asked on what basis the Commission had allowed a person expelled from the party to appear before its full bench when the AITC itself had not sought any meeting.

Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose also criticised the Commission's decision, alleging that it was inconsistent with the Commission's own procedures. She argued that only authorised signatories of a recognised political party were entitled to request a meeting with the Commission and questioned how a group without a single Member of Parliament had been granted an audience before the full bench. She further alleged that the meeting was facilitated because of the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Ghose also drew a distinction between a political party and its legislative wing, saying that the legislative party was only one component of the organisation and could not independently determine issues relating to the party's merger, split, or organisational control.

With the Election Commission directing both factions to file their responses by 5:30 p.m. on July 06, the internal battle within the Trinamool Congress has reached a decisive stage. After examining the replies and supporting documents submitted by both sides, the Commission is expected to review the rival claims regarding the party's organisational elections, authorised signatories, and overall control before deciding its future course of action.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh