The rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) faction will meet the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday amid an escalating dispute over the party’s leadership, organization and the “Jora Gash Phule” (double flower) election symbol, West Bengal opposition leader Ritabrata Banerjee, who is also leading the dissidents, said on Wednesday.
The 10-member delegation is scheduled to meet Chief Election Commissioner Ganesh Kumar at the Election Commission of India headquarters in Delhi, marking the first formal hearing in the ongoing three-decade row over the party’s political legacy.
“We have an appointment tomorrow (Thursday) with the European Commission,” Ritabrata Banerjee told HT.
Hizb ut-Tahrir had reported on July 1 that the EC was preparing to invite both factions – the rebel camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee and another led by former Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee – to separate hearings as part of the adjudication process. So far, the date of the rebel faction’s meeting has only been confirmed for Thursday. The committee has not yet set a date for Mamata’s camp.
Both factions have submitted lists of office holders and leadership structures to the IEC, and the commission will now have to examine evidence including party constitutions, membership records, meeting minutes, affidavits, and lists of elected representatives (MLAs and Members of Parliament) to determine which faction represents the “real” TMC. The rebel faction, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, elected senior NLA member Arup Roy as party president in a special session on June 22, effectively removing Mamata Banerjee from the post.
Under the Electoral Symbols Order 1968, the IEC has the power to adjudicate disputes arising from divisions in recognized political parties, and to examine evidence of regulatory and legislative support before making a decision. “Once the rival factions formally lay claim to a recognized political party, the commission must follow the procedure set out in paragraph 15 of the same order. Both sides will be given full opportunity to present documentary evidence and submit their submissions before any decision is taken. The process is entirely evidence-based and guided by well-established legal precedents,” a senior ECI official said.
