The Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress on Monday informed the Election Commission that the claims made by a rival group over the party were baseless, asserting that the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) organisational committees remain valid until 2027 in accordance with the party's constitution.
After submitting the party's response, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said a "comprehensive reply" had been filed before the Election Commission in response to a representation submitted by rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee. The dispute before the poll body concerns the party's authorised signatories and organisational elections, with the rival faction claiming to represent the "real" AITC.
Refuting the rebel group's contention that the tenure of the AITC committee and the National Working Committee ended in 2025, Kalyan Banerjee said the party constitution had been amended over time. He explained that the tenure was increased from three years to four years in 2000 and later extended to five years in 2006, with both amendments being duly communicated to the Election Commission.
"The last organisational election was held in 2022. Therefore, the tenure of the AITC and the National Working Committee is automatically valid for five years and will continue until 2027," he said, adding that the rival faction's claim that the committees ceased to exist in 2025 was contrary to the party's constitutional provisions.
Banerjee further argued that the rebel leaders had themselves acknowledged the legitimacy of the current leadership by contesting the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections on the TMC symbol using nomination papers signed by party chairperson Mamata Banerjee.
"If they claim the party ceased to exist after 2025, then on what basis did they contest the elections? By their own argument, their election becomes invalid. They should resign immediately," he said.
He also alleged that the rival faction's June 22 "special session", during which it claimed to have reconstituted the party organisation, violated the AITC constitution. According to him, the constitution prescribes a structured process beginning with block-level committees, followed by district and state committees, before the formation of the AITC committee.
Banerjee claimed that the rebel faction bypassed these mandatory procedures and failed to issue the required public notices or inform MPs, MLAs and other ex officio members.
"There was no public notification, no proper circulation and no notice to ex officio members. The AITC committee constituted by them is a complete violation of the party constitution," he said.
Describing the rival group's actions as "completely fraudulent", Banerjee said the process followed by the rebels had no legal or constitutional standing. He also accused the faction of attempting to take control of party offices unlawfully with the support of the state administration.
The Election Commission had directed both the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the faction headed by Ritabrata Banerjee to submit their respective claims and counterclaims. The dispute intensified after the rebel group met the full bench of the Election Commission last week and asserted that it represented the "real" AITC. The Mamata Banerjee camp objected to the poll panel hearing leaders it said had already been expelled from the party. In its response, the TMC rejected all claims made by the rival faction and reiterated that its organisational bodies remain constitutionally valid until 2027.
