In a dramatic turn of events within West Bengal’s ruling party, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has successfully countered a high-stakes move by her long-time loyalist, Arup Biswas, to freeze the party’s primary bank accounts.

The Dispute Over the Party Purse

Arup Biswas, historically considered one of Banerjee’s closest confidants over the last 15 years, reportedly sent a formal letter to the party’s bank manager on June 12. In the letter, Biswas still identified himself as the TMC Treasurer and requested an immediate freeze on the party’s accounts.

He cited ongoing internal complications regarding control over party funds and a widening rift within the parliamentary and legislative wings. Biswas argued that freezing the accounts was a necessary step to safeguard the party’s finances during this turbulent phase.

However, sources reveal that the bank authorities have declined to act on Biswas’s request.

Mamata Banerjee’s Pre-emptive Strike

The bank’s refusal to freeze the accounts stems from a strategic counter-move orchestrated by Mamata Banerjee a week prior. Anticipating internal friction, the TMC leadership had already officially stripped Biswas of his financial responsibilities.

The Timeline: On June 5 a week before Biswas sent his letter—the TMC passed an official resolution appointing Subhashis Chakraborty as the new party Treasurer.

The Legal Standing: The bank was duly notified of this leadership change with all necessary legal minutes and documentation, effectively rendering Biswas’s June 12 directive null and void.

Rising Internal Friction

The fallout between Biswas and the party leadership had been brewing for some time. Reports indicate a series of events led to this flashpoint:

The Financial Controversy: Biswas recently faced severe scrutiny within the party over alleged financial irregularities tied to a housing/mess controversy. Sources suggest he failed to provide satisfactory explanations to the leadership.

The Kalighat Standoff

Tensions escalated during a recent meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, which reportedly ended in a heated argument. Following this, Biswas repeatedly ignored summons to attend further party meetings and briefly went unreachable while evading a police appearance at the Bidhannagar South Police Station.

The Opposition Connection

Speculation is rife within party circles that Biswas has been in communication with a breakaway faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, aiming to pressure the TMC supremo.

A Legal Battle Looming?

The financial tussle coincides with a major legal blow to the ruling camp. On Thursday, the Calcutta High Court recognized Ritabrata Banerjee as the official Leader of the Opposition (LoP). With Ritabrata’s faction also eyeing the party’s assets, the battle for control over the TMC’s financial and political legacy is expected to intensify.

Commenting on the development, political observer Sandipan Saha noted, “Arup Biswas sent the letter in his capacity as the former treasurer because he felt that without this intervention, there could be financial irregularities regarding the Trinamool accounts.”

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