Ritabrata faction seizes TMC HQ in Kolkata as rebels versus Mamata escalates

More trouble appears to be brewing for former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a section of Trinamool Congress (TMC) rebel MLAs on Friday reportedly took control of the party headquarters in Kolkata.

The internal power struggle escalated after a faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee and Firhad Hakim returned from Delhi and moved to assert control over Trinamool Bhavan on EM Bypass. Soon after, meetings were held at the office, following which the group allegedly padlocked the gates of the party headquarters.

Leaders aligned with the Kalighat camp, including Madan Mitra and Kunal Ghosh, strongly condemned the move. Meanwhile, police and central forces have been deployed at the party office as tensions continue to rise.

Earlier, the faction had met the full bench of the Election Commission in New Delhi, claiming to be the legitimate representatives of the “TMC” with no ambiguity over the party name or symbol.

Subsequently, the rebel group reportedly locked the gates of Trinamool Bhavan and put up an “All India Trinamool Congress” banner, naming Arup Roy as its chairperson.

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