10 Rebel TMC MLAs in New Delhi to meet EC for party control, symbol, funds
Beleghata TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh, who is a loyalist of Ms Banerjee, however claimed, “We are not blaming all of them who have changed sides because a perception is being created that if someone, who shifts allegiance, will not be disturbed by the police. So those who are changing sides either have links to corruption or fear of getting framed in false cases. Pressure is working on them anyway.”
Kolkata: With an aim to isolate Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and her loyalists further within the organisation, a group of 10 rebel MLAs of their party flew to New Delhi on Wednesday evening to meet the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday to stake a claim on the party's leadership, symbol and treasury.
Ritabrata Banerjee, who is the face of the dissident TMC camp and also leader of the opposition of West Bengal, is heading the delegation including his deputy Sandipan Saha. Interestingly, the rebel group sought an appointment with the EC on Tuesday and got it within a day.
Mr Banerjee said before departure, “We have an appointment with the EC full bench. We have been allowed to take a 10-member delegation of our collective leadership to the meeting at 12 pm on Thursday. We had informed the EC everything in detail after our special session which was held on June 22.”
He added, “We later sought an appointment which was granted. We thank the EC for this.” Echoing him, Mr Saha said, “We will discuss the letter we earlier sent to the EC.” The letter is about the formation of the new national working committee by rebel TMC leaders after removing Ms Banerjee as party's chairperson and suspension of her MP nephew Abhishek Banerjee as national general secretary.
According to sources, the dissident group will urge the EC to recognise their side as the ‘real’ TMC at the meeting and make them the custodian of the party symbol and bank accounts. Apart from Mr Banerjee and Mr Saha, Arup Roy, Javed Ahmed Khan are also in the delegation. Recently, some rebel TMC leaders had met the poll officials at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal.
Beleghata TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh, who is a loyalist of Ms Banerjee, however claimed, “We are not blaming all of them who have changed sides because a perception is being created that if someone, who shifts allegiance, will not be disturbed by the police. So those who are changing sides either have links to corruption or fear of getting framed in false cases. Pressure is working on them anyway.”
