In a dramatic political shift following the recent change of guard in West Bengal, the rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has officially consolidated its power. Spearheaded by Uluberia East MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, the breakaway faction dubbed the ‘Nabam Trinamool Block’ announced its new leadership committee on Monday, effectively sidelining party supremo Mamata Banerjee and suspending All India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

With the party’s reins now firmly in the hands of the rebels, speculations are rife about whether the faction will soon approach the Election Commission to claim the official party symbol.

The New Leadership Hierarchy

The newly formed committee conspicuously omits Mamata Banerjee’s name, replacing her top-tier influence with loyalists of the rebel camp.

Chairman Arup Roy (MLA, Howrah Central)

Vice Presidents Firhad Hakim, Arup Biswas, Rathin Ghosh

General Secretaries Ritabrata Banerjee, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha, Sabina Yasmin

Treasurer Akhtaruzzaman

How the Rebellion Unfolded

The rift within the TMC began to widen into an outright mutiny following the rise of the BJP to power in the state, which triggered a dispute over the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition.

The Signature Controversy A resolution copy bearing the signatures of 70 MLAs was sent to the Assembly, designating Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition.

Allegations of Forgery: Entally MLA Sandipan Saha and Uluberia East MLA Ritabrata Banerjee revolted, alleging that their signatures had been forged. They formally lodged a complaint with the Speaker.

The Shift in Power: As the dispute reached the High Court, a growing number of TMC MLAs began defecting from Mamata Banerjee’s camp to join Ritabrata. The Speaker ultimately recognized Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition, marking a formal division within the party.

The Final Showdown in New Town

The rebellion reached its climax on Monday afternoon during a high-profile meeting convened by the Ritabrata faction at a luxury hotel in New Town.

The meeting saw significant turnout, drawing not only rebel legislators but also several TMC councillors and heavyweights previously considered Mamata loyalists. Notably, former MLA Arup Biswas was also in attendance. It was during this convention that the new organizational structure was ratified, sealing the rebels’ coup over the conventional TMC leadership.

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