Ritabrata faction takes control of Trinamool Bhavan headquarters:Rebel faction locks party office, ‘Kalighat TMC’ leaders arrive to break the lock

The faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee on Friday took control of Trinamool Bhavan, the party’s long-time headquarters at Metropolitan Building in Kolkata, escalating the ongoing leadership battle within the Trinamool Congress. Ritabrata faction occupies Trinamool Bhavan office Ritabrata Banerjee was accompanied by senior leaders Firhad Hakim, Sandipan Saha, Javed Khan, Akhruzzaman and several MLAs, who entered the office and announced that the faction would now operate from the premises. Speaking to reporters, Akhruzzaman said Trinamool Bhavan holds deep emotional significance for the party and that the Ritabrata-led camp would function from the office as we advance. Leaders claim emotional bond with headquarters The question of which faction represents the “real” Trinamool Congress has dominated West Bengal politics since the Assembly election results. The internal split began after Ritabrata and a group of MLAs openly rebelled against the party leadership, leading to an ongoing power struggle between the Ritabrata faction and the Mamata Banerjee-led “Kalighat Trinamool” camp. New national committee formed without Mamata On June 21, the Ritabrata camp held a meeting at a hotel in New Town, where it announced a new Trinamool national executive committee, excluding Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. During that meeting, Arup Roy, the MLA from Howrah Central, was appointed as the party’s chairman. ‘Kalighat TMC’ leaders reach to break the lock Upon receiving information about the development, Kalighat TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh, along with other rushed to the party office. The office falls within his Assembly constituency. Arup Roy named party chairman officially On Friday, the faction also installed a new signboard outside Trinamool Bhavan displaying Arup Roy’s name as the Chairman of the Trinamool Congress, reinforcing its claim over the party organisation. The rivalry between the two camps had intensified earlier over plans to hold separate rallies on July 21 near Victoria House. Both factions sought permission from Kolkata Police, but neither was granted. Election Commission informed about organisational changes A day before taking over the party office, the Ritabrata faction met the full bench of the Election Commission in New Delhi to inform it about the newly constituted national executive. Addressing questions over the party symbol and organisational control, Ritabrata claimed there was no dispute, asserting that two-thirds of the party’s MLAs, several former ministers, councillors and district council members were backing his faction. ​