Rebel TMC faction announces state, district committees; Anubrata joins Ritabrata camp

The Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel Trinamool Congress on Saturday (July 11) intensified its push to establish itself as the party's legitimate organization by announcing parallel state and district committees, bringing several longtime Mamata Banerjee loyalists, including former Birbhum strongman Anubrata Mondal, into its camp.

The appointments were unveiled after the faction's two-day working committee meeting and signal an effort to build an independent organisational structure even as its claim over the Trinamool Congress remains pending before the Election Commission.

The move comes weeks after the rebel camp convened a special session in which it removed Mamata Banerjee as party chairperson, elected senior MLA Arup Roy to the post, constituted a parallel working committee and approached the EC seeking recognition as the "real" Trinamool Congress.

EC battle continues

One of the biggest political developments came from Birbhum, where Anubrata Mondal was named president of the faction's district unit.

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Regarded for years as one of Mamata Banerjee's closest political associates, Mondal's shift is being seen as one of the most significant defections since the split widened after the assembly election.

His appointment also places him alongside Kajal Sheikh, another influential Birbhum leader with whom he had long been locked in a bitter political rivalry.

Anubrata's switch reshapes Birbhum

Their presence in the same camp points to changing equations within the party, with organisational survival appearing to take precedence over past differences.

The organizational reshuffle extended beyond Birbhum. Former Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen was appointed one of the faction's principal spokespersons, while MLA Arunava (Raja) Sen was named president of the Howrah district unit.

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Former minister Rabindranath Chatterjee was given charge of Purba Bardhaman and Debasish Kumar was appointed South Kolkata district president.

District chiefs were also announced for Paschim Medinipur, Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Purulia, Diamond Harbour, Sundarbans and North Kolkata as part of what leaders described as the first phase of statewide expansion.

Focus shifts to statewide expansion

Ritabrata Banerjee said they have got permission to hold the Martyrs' Day rally on July 21 in front of the Gandhi statue on Mayo Road.

The announcement comes after the rebel faction claimed the support of 58 of the TMC's 80 MLAs in last month's contest over the Leader of the Opposition's post and now says its strength has increased to around 65 legislators.

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It has also claimed the backing of 20 of the party's 28 Lok Sabha MPs after they merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and extended support to the BJP-led NDA, indicating that the battle has expanded beyond legislative numbers into the party's organisational structure.

(With agency inputs)