Ritabrata Banerjee named Bengal Leader of Opposition amid escalating Trinamool Congress power struggle

The development marked a significant escalation in the ongoing power struggle within the party following its defeat in the Assembly elections.

Shortly after the Speaker's decision, Banerjee was formally handed the keys to the chamber designated for the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, underlining the official recognition of his position.

Speaker approves Ritabrata's claim

The decision came after a large group of TMC legislators submitted letters backing Ritabrata Banerjee for the post.

Rebel lawmakers claimed they represented the party's "real" legislative wing and sought formal recognition from the Assembly.

According to the rebel camp, between 58 and 60 of the TMC's 80 MLAs supported Banerjee's candidature for the position.

Addressing reporters after being recognised as the Leader of the Opposition, Banerjee said, “We are the principal opposition. We have fought as a team.”

The former Left leader, who joined the Trinamool Congress in 2018, maintained that the rebellion was not intended to split the party.

Mamata requested to become 'chief adviser'

In a move that highlighted the unusual political dynamics within the party, Ritabrata Banerjee reiterated that Mamata Banerjee remained the leader of the faction despite the rebellion against the existing leadership structure.

“We would request Mamata Banerjee to be our chief advisor to this opposition front,” he said.

The rebel faction's letter to the Speaker also reportedly described itself as the "real" Trinamool Congress while continuing to identify Mamata Banerjee as its leader.

The position adopted by the group suggests that the dispute is centred on organisational and legislative control rather than a formal separation from the party founded by Mamata Banerjee.

Abhishek Banerjee's role questioned

While expressing allegiance to Mamata Banerjee, Ritabrata Banerjee drew a distinction regarding the role of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

“Abhishek Banerjee has no connection to the formation of the 18th Assembly of West Bengal,” he said.

The remark came amid growing criticism of Abhishek Banerjee from sections of the party following the electoral setback and the subsequent organisational turmoil.

Several leaders and elected representatives have publicly voiced concerns about the party's functioning and leadership structure in recent weeks.

New Legislative team announced

Following his recognition as Leader of the Opposition, the rebel faction announced a new leadership structure inside the Assembly.

TMC MLAs Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha, Sabina Yasmin and Seuli Saha were named deputy leaders in the House, while Akhruzzaman was appointed chief whip.

The appointments indicate that the rebel camp has moved quickly to establish a parallel legislative framework after securing recognition from the Speaker.

'Forged signature' row added to tensions

The latest development follows a controversy surrounding the appointment of the Opposition leader.

Last week, Abhishek Banerjee, acting in his capacity as the party's general secretary, had written to the Speaker proposing senior TMC leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay for the post.

However, the proposal became embroiled in controversy after Ritabrata Banerjee and fellow rebel MLA Sandipan Saha alleged that the signatures of several legislators supporting Chattopadhyay's nomination had been forged.

The allegations prompted scrutiny of the original proposal, and the Speaker did not approve the nomination.

The forged-signatures dispute further widened divisions within the party and strengthened the position of the rebel faction, which subsequently rallied support from a majority of TMC legislators.

Crisis deepens within TMC

The recognition of Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition represents one of the most significant developments in the unfolding crisis within the Trinamool Congress.

With a majority of the party's legislators backing the rebel camp and a new legislative leadership team now in place, the struggle for control of the opposition space in the West Bengal Assembly has entered a new phase.

The latest developments come amid a series of defections, public disagreements and organisational disputes that have emerged within the party in the aftermath of the Assembly election results.