State Bureau, Kolkata | The rebel faction of Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Ritabrata Banerjee took control of the party's Headquarters in Kolkata's Metropolitan on Friday, escalating the dispute with former chief minister Mamata Banerjee. A banner bearing the name of the new party chairman Arup Roy was placed on the wall of the party office. A new placard hung outside the office bears testimony to this new reality, with the name of Howrah Central MLA Arup Roy emblazoned as the party's new chairman.
On June 22, the rebel faction of the TMC convened a special session in Kolkata and appointed Arup Roy as party chairperson, replacing Mamata.
During the high-profile "take over", Ritabrata was accompanied by a group of heavyweight MLAs like Firhad Hakim, Sandipan Saha, Javed Khan, and Akhruzzaman.
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The development is not merely a matter of control over a building, but rather a direct declaration of war by the Ritabrata faction against Mamata's "Kalighat faction."
Mamata's Photos Not Removed By Rebels
Interestingly, the photographs and cutouts of Mamata Banerjee inside the office have remained untouched. In a deliberate strategy, the Ritabrata faction has made it clear that while they consider "Didi" their guide (mentor), they will move forward without the Mamata-Abhishek Banerjee duo.
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Political analysts believe that the move, taken so soon after the formation of the new National Executive Committee and the meeting with the full bench of the Election Commission in Delhi, is a highly planned one. The Ritabrata camp claimed that two-thirds of the party's MLAs, former ministers, councillors, and district council members are with them, and therefore they are the "real Trinamool" and have a strong emotional connection to this office.
TMC Office Building Owner's Stand
The rebel group directly negotiated with the building's owner, Mantu Saha, whose company, Modern Decorating, once decorated the stage for the historic July 21 rallies and who had issued an ultimatum to Trinamool to vacate the building after the election debacle. The rebels resolved the rent issue with him before takng over the office.
It Happened With Connivance Of Police And The Government: Kunal Ghosh
On the other hand, the Mamata camp in Kalighat expressed their anger over the party seizure. MLA Kunal Ghosh targeted the government and the police, alleging that the occupation was entirely in connivance with the state administration.
TMC leader Madan Mitra said the Central Forces arrived within 15 minutes to protect a specific Trinamool Congress group and this proved that these people are acting as the BJP's 'B-team,' operating from the saffron party's lap.
"We have not violated any laws. At least 1 lakh of our party offices in Bengal are currently shut down, and our party members cannot even sit there; they are facing oppression, hooliganism, and police attacks. No one from the BJP went to protect them. They (Police) stated that they would summon the owner and examine the agreement. We possess the key to the adjacent room, yet we were not allowed to enter," he added.
(With Jagran.com Inputs)