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NEW DELHI: The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday directed rival factions of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to submit their claims and counterclaims over the party’s authorised signatories and organisational elections.According to officials in the EC, letters have been sent to both Mamata Banerjee and rebel faction leader Ritabrata Banerjee, asking them to submit their responses by 5:30 pm on July 6.The development came on a day when the rebel camp met the full EC bench in the national capital and pressed its claim over the party.Meanwhile, the Mamata Banerjee camp questioned the commission’s decision to grant an audience to the rebels, alleging that the meeting violated the poll panel’s own procedures.
Rebel camp on meeting with EC bench
Speaking to reporters after meeting the EC bench, Ritabrata Banerjee said the rebel faction formally presented its case after informing the poll panel about the special organisational session held in Kolkata on June 22.He declined to disclose the documents submitted to the commission but asserted that the organisational session had been conducted in accordance with the rules.He also reiterated the group’s claim that it represents the “real” Trinamool Congress.“We are the real TMC. More than two-thirds of the MLAs are with us. Corporators and municipal councillors are also with us,” he asserted.At least 60 of the TMC’s 80 MLAs, elected in the April Assembly polls, are reportedly aligned with the dissident group.
EC acting on behest of Amit Shah, BJP
Saugata Roy and Sagarika Ghose of the Mamata Banerjee faction claimed that only authorised signatories of a recognised political party could seek an appointment with the EC and said the “Trinamool Congress” had made no such request, referring to their camp.“The Election Commission had informed all political parties that only authorised signatories can seek a meeting. The AITC did not ask for a meeting. On what basis did the EC grant an appointment to a person expelled by the TMC?” Roy asked, referring to Ritabrata Banerjee.Ghose alleged that the EC was acting at the behest of the ruling BJP and Union home minister Amit Shah. She also argued that the legislative wing was only one branch of the party and could not decide on a merger or split.Drawing a distinction between a political party and its legislative wing, she argued that the legislative wing was only one branch of the organisation and could not decide on a merger or split.“What is this group that doesn’t have a single MP? It got an appointment with the full bench of the Election Commission only because the BJP and Amit Shah are behind it,” she asked.(With PTI inputs)
