Kolkata, 05 June (H.S.) : The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has decided to approach the Calcutta High Court challenging the West Bengal Assembly Speaker’s decision to appoint Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition, even as the party grapples with an intensifying internal crisis involving rebel MLAs and MPs.

Senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee confirmed that the party will file a petition on Monday, terming the Speaker’s decision “illegal.” The move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political dispute within the West Bengal Assembly, where factions within the opposition have begun to openly diverge.

The development comes at a time when the ruling party is undertaking a large-scale organisational restructuring following growing dissent and the emergence of rebel groups within its legislative ranks. According to party sources, several MLAs have broken away to form an alternate faction backing Ritabrata Banerjee’s recognition as Leader of Opposition.

While the TMC leadership has rejected the legitimacy of the Speaker’s decision, the Assembly reportedly maintained that previous expulsions of Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha were invalid due to procedural lapses, including the absence of a show-cause notice.

Amid the political uncertainty, the party is also facing signs of widening dissent within Parliament, with reports suggesting that a section of MPs could potentially align into a separate faction. The developments follow recent resignations and public criticism from senior leaders, further deepening concerns within the party’s central leadership.

Despite the unrest, the party has sought to project unity ahead of the upcoming INDIA bloc meeting scheduled in New Delhi on June 8, which will be attended by senior leaders including Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, and Dola Sen.

Simultaneously, internal restructuring efforts continue within the organisation, as the party attempts to stabilise its leadership structure across state and national levels amid ongoing factional tensions.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh