Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee are set to attend the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on June 8, even as the party grapples with its biggest internal crisis following a major rebellion within its legislative ranks.
The opposition alliance meeting assumes added significance as it comes amid political turbulence in West Bengal and ongoing investigations into the alleged signature mismatch controversy involving Trinamool legislators.
Abhishek Summoned by CID
Abhishek Banerjee has been asked to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters at Bhabani Bhavan in Kolkata on June 8 in connection with the signature mismatch probe.
He was initially summoned on June 1 but sought additional time, citing injuries sustained during an alleged attack by members of the public in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas, on May 30. The CID subsequently issued a fresh notice directing him to appear on June 8.
According to Trinamool leaders, Mamata Banerjee's participation in the INDIA bloc meeting marks the beginning of a renewed national-level campaign against the BJP following the West Bengal Assembly election results.
Party leaders also pointed out that several INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren, had expressed solidarity with Abhishek Banerjee following the Sonarpur incident.
Major Split Rocks Trinamool Congress
The INDIA bloc meeting comes as the Trinamool Congress faces an unprecedented internal revolt.
In a dramatic development, 58 of the party's 80 MLAs have broken away under the leadership of expelled legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha.
On Wednesday, the rebel group submitted a resolution to the West Bengal Assembly claiming to be the legitimate representatives of the Trinamool Congress legislature party.
The resolution named Ritabrata Banerjee, MLA from Uluberia (Purba), as the new Leader of Opposition. Sandipan Saha, Siuli Saha and Javed Ahmed Khan were named deputy leaders, while veteran legislator Akhruzzaman was designated Chief Whip.
Interestingly, despite the rebellion, the resolution continued to recognise Mamata Banerjee as the party's supreme leader and president.
Signature Dispute Triggered Crisis
The rebellion traces its roots to a dispute over signatures submitted to the Assembly Speaker's office for the appointment of opposition leaders in the Assembly.
Earlier, Abhishek Banerjee had formally proposed the names of Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition, Nayna Bandopadhyay and Asima Patra as deputy leaders, and Firhad Hakim as Chief Whip.
However, questions were later raised by Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha over alleged mismatches in the signatures of several MLAs attached to the resolution. Both legislators were subsequently expelled from the party.
The Assembly Secretariat later referred the matter to the CID, which launched an investigation and summoned Abhishek Banerjee for questioning.
Political Uncertainty Ahead
The emergence of the rebel bloc has created uncertainty over the future of the Trinamool Congress in the Assembly, even as Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee seek to strengthen opposition unity at the national level through the INDIA alliance.
As of Wednesday evening, neither Mamata Banerjee nor Abhishek Banerjee had publicly responded to the rebel group's claims, setting the stage for a potentially significant political confrontation in West Bengal in the coming days.
