The ongoing struggle for control over the Trinamool Congress (TMC) reached a new level of intensity on Monday following allegations of a mid-transit confrontation. Ritabrata Banerjee, head of the Democratic Trinamool Congress, claimed that unidentified individuals attempted to hijack a vehicle transporting his faction’s affidavits to the Election Commission (EC) in Delhi. According to Banerjee, the incident occurred near the Haryana border as the truck was en route from Kolkata.
Banerjee stated that the documents were dispatched from West Bengal on October 24 to meet the submission deadline mandated by the Election Commission. He alleged that assailants attempted to seize the vehicle and remove the crucial paperwork, but workers accompanying the shipment managed to resist the interference. In a statement posted on social media, Banerjee framed the incident as a clash between the established political leadership and his faction, characterizing the alleged attempt as part of an organized effort to impede his group’s submissions.
The dispute stems from the aftermath of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, which left the Trinamool Congress deeply divided. The Ritabrata-led faction asserts that it maintains the support of a majority of the party’s elected legislators and has formally requested that the Election Commission recognize it as the legitimate TMC. In response to these competing claims, the poll panel has frozen the party's name and election symbol while it evaluates the evidence provided by both sides.
The rival camp, led by Mamata Banerjee, has categorically denied the allegations surrounding the truck. Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen dismissed the account, asserting that the public would ultimately decide the outcome of the organizational dispute. Furthermore, Kalyan Banerjee, a Lok Sabha MP from the Mamata-led faction, raised significant doubts regarding the logistical details of the claim, specifically questioning why a truck traveling from Kolkata to the national capital would be diverted through Haryana.
Kalyan Banerjee also challenged the credibility of the narrative by noting that the Ritabrata-led group is currently provided with security by the central police force. He argued that it is improbable for such a shipment, protected by CRPF personnel, to be vulnerable to an external seizure. He further alleged that the entire episode was a piece of manufactured drama intended to serve political interests, while accusing the opposition faction of maintaining close ties with the national leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
As the legal and administrative battle continues, both groups are actively engaged in presenting documents to the Election Commission to substantiate their respective positions. The incident on the road to Delhi highlights the high stakes of the internal confrontation, as both factions attempt to secure official recognition. With the party symbol and name currently frozen, the tension surrounding the submission of these affidavits serves as the latest point of friction in an increasingly bitter struggle for the political identity of the Trinamool Congress.
The Election Commission is expected to continue its review of the documents and claims submitted by the competing factions. Until a final decision is reached, the party remains in a state of administrative limbo, with both groups operating as separate entities. The outcome of these proceedings will be pivotal in determining the future of the organization, as the factions await the commission’s final determination on who holds the right to claim the legacy and structure of the original party.
Comments