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The power struggle within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has now come to the fore in the politics of West Bengal. The conflict between Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee over the command of the party has intensified. Both the groups have now become active against each other not only at the political level but also on the legal and organizational front.

In the latest development, after the formation of a new National Working Committee by Ritabrata Banerjee, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also tried to strengthen her claim on the party by immediately sending the list of the National Executive authorized on her behalf to the Election Commission.

Ritabrata Banerjee formed new national executive

On Monday, Ritabrata Banerjee announced the new national executive of Trinamool Congress. The biggest change in this list was that Mamata Banerjee’s name was completely left out.

In the new executive, Arup Roy was made the chairman of the party, while the decision was taken to expel Abhishek Banerjee from the organization. This decision created a stir in the state politics and a picture of open rebellion within the party came to the fore.

According to sources, the Ritabrata faction was preparing to present these documents before the Election Commission, so that the new executive could be given legal recognition.

Mamata Banerjee immediately took legal action

Responding to the strategy of Ritabrata faction, Mamata Banerjee sent a detailed letter to the Election Commission without any delay. Along with this letter, he also submitted the list of his authorized national executive of Trinamool Congress to the Commission.

It is being told that the names of a total of 24 leaders are included in this list.

Mamata Banerjee has named herself the national chairperson of the party, while Abhishek Banerjee has been retained as the All India General Secretary. This decision is also considered important because Ritabrata Banerjee had claimed to expel Abhishek from the party a day earlier.

These leaders were also given important responsibility

Many senior leaders have been given important posts in the list sent by Mamata Banerjee.

Dola Sen and Derek O’Brien have been made joint general secretaries. At the same time, senior leader Subrata Bakshi has been appointed Vice President and Subhashish has been appointed Treasurer of the party.

Shobhandev Chattopadhyay’s name has also been included in the list as an assembly leader. However, there is no mention of the post of Leader of Opposition.

Apart from this, names of many other senior leaders including Madan Mitra have also been included in the executive.

Eyes fixed on the role of Election Commission

Political experts believe that Mamata Banerjee has tried to gain organizational edge by sending her list to the Election Commission on time.

Now this matter has reached the Election Commission and in the coming days the Commission will have to decide which party’s documents regarding the authorized leadership and organization of the party should be recognized.

This dispute is not only organizational but may also reach the election symbol and official rights of the party in the future.

Opinion of political analysts

Political analyst Shubhamoy Maitra believes that at present it is completely a matter of power struggle.

According to him, leadership change within any political party is decided not only by the legal process but also by the actual hold on the organization and the support of the workers.

He said that ultimately the biggest question will be which leadership the workers and voters of Trinamool Congress stand with. The real answer to this will emerge only in the next elections.

The same strategy was seen in Parliament also

Political observers say that the same strategy was seen in Parliament also. When the rebel MPs were preparing to approach the Speaker of the Lok Sabha with their claims, even before that, pro-Mamata MPs Kirti Azad and Sagarika Ghosh had sent their views to the Speaker.

Now the list of the executive sent to the Election Commission is also being considered as part of the same strategy, in which the Mamata faction is trying to take every step first as per the legal process.

What next?

This growing power struggle in Trinamool Congress is no longer limited to just political rhetoric. Organization, leadership, Election Commission and possible legal battle—both the groups are face to face on all these fronts.

In the coming days, the attitude of the Election Commission, the judicial process and the support of the party workers will decide who will ultimately hold the real command of the Trinamool Congress – Mamata Banerjee or Ritabrata Banerjee.