A faction within the Trinamool Congress, loyal to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, has been marginalized in the West Bengal Assembly. None of this faction’s legislators secured a place in the crucial Business Advisory committee, which plays a significant role in the Assembly’s proceedings.
The Business Advisory committee, a key statutory body, determines the Assembly’s session details and agenda. It holds sway over the Assembly’s functioning, including session schedules, duration, and bills to be discussed. The newly formed committee in West Bengal comprises 19 permanent members, with the ruling BJP holding 14 seats and the opposition Trinamool Congress having five members.
All five Trinamool Congress members in the committee belong to the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, who is now the official Leader of Opposition. Ritabrata himself is a permanent member of the committee. Additionally, there are 10 invited members, including representatives from various parties like Congress, CPI(M), and other smaller parties.
Constitutional experts note that despite the factional divide, all Trinamool Congress MLAs are officially recognized as such in Assembly records. This technicality validates the selection of committee members from both factions, ensuring procedural integrity.
