The rebel faction in Trinamool Congress, led by expelled party legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, is set to unveil its state and district committees in West Bengal on Saturday. Last month, this faction declared a new national working committee, appointing Arup Roy as the national spokesperson instead of Mamata Banerjee. The upcoming announcement of office bearers for state and district committees marks another strategic move by the faction.
This development is seen as a calculated step to assert authority over the party’s name, electoral symbol, and financial resources. With a majority of 60 out of 80 Trinamool Congress legislators supporting the rebel faction in the West Bengal Assembly, they aim to strengthen their position. The faction’s actions, including forming its own committees, are expected to bolster its case before the Election Commission.
Amidst these internal rifts, the original Trinamool Congress faction, led by Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, faces financial challenges. Debit restrictions on 15 bank accounts holding around Rs 1,000 crore have been imposed, prompting an Enforcement Directorate investigation into possible money laundering. Notably, transactions exceeding Rs 150 crore from three of these accounts are under special scrutiny.
