Mamata camp gains ground as rebel MLAs return, boosting her chances in EC battle

The Trinamool Congress rebellion led by Ritabrata Banerjee is showing signs of strain, with several MLAs who earlier backed him now reaffirming their allegiance to Mamata Banerjee, a development that comes amid the Election Commission (EC) considering rival claims to the party’s name and twin-flower symbol.

The shifting loyalties could weaken Ritabrata’s claim to represent the original party, with several legislators who had signed in his support now distancing themselves from the breakaway formation, the Democratic Trinamool Congress.

MLAs trickle back to Mamata camp

Among those who have reaffirmed their allegiance to Mamata are Amdanga MLA Kasem Siddiqui, Chopra MLA Hamidul Rahman, and Chakulia MLA Azad Minhajul Arfin.

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Rahman openly announced his departure from Ritabrata’s camp, while Azad submitted an affidavit to the EC in support of Mamata.

Siddiqui, too, formally announced his departure from the rebel faction, alleging that he had been misled into believing it would function under Mamata’s leadership.

More MLAs may switch back

Madhyamgram MLA Rathin Ghosh has also publicly reaffirmed Mamata’s leadership, saying he has remained with her from the beginning.

Basirhat North MLA Tausifur Rahman and Haroa MLA Abdul Matin Muhammad, too, are reportedly moving back to the Mamata camp, although neither has publicly confirmed the shift. Another MLA from the rebel camp, Kajal Sheikh of Hansan, has also reportedly opened channels of communication with the parent organisation.

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There is also speculation that Golam Rabbani, Mosaraf Hossain, Bibhas Sardar, and Shiuli Saha are reconsidering their alignment with the Ritabrata camp.

‘Misled’ by rebels?

The Mamata camp claims that the trickle of legislators returning to its fold is gathering pace.

Mamata TMC’s legislature party leader Shovandeb Chattopadhyay claimed that 27 of the TMC’s 80 elected MLAs were now with Mamata, adding that several others had contacted the leadership during and after Durga Puja, expressing their willingness to return.

Rahman claimed he supported Ritabrata’s appointment as LoP on the understanding that the move was confined to the assembly and would not lead to a separate political formation.

“I have always been a follower of Mamata Banerjee. I was elected on the TMC symbol. I continue to consider Mamata Banerjee the party leader,” he said after meeting local party workers in Chopra.

People push back

The change of position of these MLAs follows growing unease among legislators over the response they are receiving in their constituencies, according to sources in the rebel camp.

Sources in the rebel camp said several MLAs, particularly those representing minority-dominated constituencies, were facing questions from local workers and supporters about why they had distanced themselves from Mamata after winning on the TMC symbol.

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They were also struggling to explain their inability to carry out political and organisational work in their constituencies, a problem Shiuli Saha has herself raised publicly.

Firhad Hakim faces heat

The resentment against rebel leaders also became visible in Kolkata. A poster near former minister Firhad Hakim’s Chetla residence branded the Kolkata Port MLA a “traitor”.

A local TMC supporter claimed responsibility for putting it up, saying people were angry with Hakim for moving to Ritabrata’s camp. Days later, posters in Garden Reach and Metiabruz described Hakim as “missing” since May 4, the day the assembly election results were announced.

The claim by a local TMC supporter that he had put up the banner points to resentment within the party’s own ranks over leaders who have shifted allegiance.

Many of these legislators are finding it difficult to defend their association with a breakaway group when their supporters continue to identify themselves with Mamata and the original party, the sources added.

Pressure from BJP?

The factional realignment has also triggered allegations of pressure from the state government, with the Mamata camp accusing the police and administration of targeting legislators moving away from Ritabrata’s camp.

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The case of Chopra MLA lent weight to the allegation, as shortly after Rahman reaffirmed his allegiance to Mamata, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directed senior police officers to reopen all cases against him and recover land allegedly grabbed in the area.

Adhikari described Rahman as a “notorious goon-mafia”, calling him a strongman and sand thief.

The Mamata camp accused the government of targeting Rahman for switching sides. The party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh questioned why the chief minister had ordered the reopening of cases immediately after the MLA declared his support for Mamata.

Security lifted, jail threats

Questions have also been raised over the withdrawal of security personnel assigned to Kajal Sheikh, reportedly a day after he met Chattopadhyay in the assembly amid speculation that he was moving towards the Mamata camp.

Sheikh questioned the timing and said he felt unprotected, adding that he would approach the court for restoration of his security.

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Chattopadhyay, meanwhile, alleged that two women MLAs told him their sons had been detained by police and threatened with criminal cases unless they signed Ritabrata’s list of supporting legislators.

He claimed the police warned that the sons could face at least six months in jail if their mothers refused to comply.

EC battle looms

These defections and allegations of pressure have assumed added significance as the two factions vie to establish themselves as the original TMC before the Supreme Court and the EC.

The EC has frozen the All India Trinamool Congress name and its twin-flowers-and-grass symbol pending a final decision, allotting the Mamata faction the interim name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the football-player symbol, while Ritabrata’s group has been allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the envelope symbol.

The EC will have to assess the competing claims on the basis of organisational support, the backing of elected representatives and other relevant evidence.

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Ritabrata’s camp had initially projected the backing of a large majority of the TMC’s 80 MLAs. The return of MLAs to Mamata’s camp and affidavits submitted in her support could strengthen her faction’s claim before the EC.

However, the number of supporting MLAs is not the only factor, as the EC will also consider organisational support.