Overview
- Rebel legislators led by Ritabrata Banerjee entered Trinamool Bhavan, changed locks and put up their own banners in early July, claiming to operate as the ‘real’ TMC from the rented headquarters.
- Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned from all TMC posts and withdrew herself as authorised signatory and as the party’s ECI representative on Saturday, and was later seen meeting rebel leaders at the state assembly.
- Mamata Banerjee called the dissidents traitors, said she would take over as West Bengal state unit president and appointed new state general secretaries to shore up the loyalist organisation.
- Both camps have submitted competing documents to the Election Commission and the commission set a July 6 deadline to decide which faction will control the party’s name, twin-flower symbol and access to party funds.
- The breakdown follows the TMC’s election defeat and mass defections — roughly 58 of 80 MLAs and about 20 MPs have broken with the supremo — raising the risk of the party losing its brand, money and local organisational network in coming elections.