Symbol and funds: Mamata faces dual challenges, in EC and HC

Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (July 2) faced twin challenges to her control of the Trinamool Congress as a rival faction sought the Election Commission’s recognition as the “real” party, while a legal battle over the party’s frozen bank accounts intensified in the Calcutta High Court.

The developments put the party’s symbol and funds at the centre of a two-front battle for control of the TMC between rival factions that emerged after the West Bengal assembly election.

Battle for ‘real’ TMC

A 10-member delegation led by Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee, met the EC’s full bench in New Delhi and claimed that his faction represented the “real” All India Trinamool Congress.

“There is no question of any dispute. Two-thirds of the party’s MLAs are with us. Former ministers are with us. Councillors and Zilla Parishad members are also with us,” Ritabrata told reporters after the meeting.

Also read: TMC rebels 'oust' Mamata, appoint Arup Roy as party chief, constitute new NWC

The delegation said it had informed the EC about a new national working committee constituted at a special convention on June 22. It said the meeting with the EC was sought to formally place the details of the reconstituted committee on record.

No answer from EC yet

The faction had also submitted documents relating to the June 22 convention to the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer a day after the meeting.

Although the faction insisted it was not staking a fresh claim because it already constituted the “real” TMC, it said the EC had assured it that its submissions would be examined.

The poll panel did not immediately issue any public statement on the meeting.

Battle over control of symbol

The Mamata camp’s spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed the rival faction’s claims, saying the party remained united behind its founder.

While neither the EC nor the Ritabrata camp disclosed the details of the representations made, political observers said the rival faction’s move was aimed at securing official recognition as the legitimate TMC and, with it, control over the party’s election symbol and organisational structure.

Also read: TMC split and fight for symbol: Who gets the twin flowers?

“The EC’s task is to determine which faction satisfies the legal requirements for recognition under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. Hearing one faction is part of that process,” said political commentator Debasish Chakrabarti. “It will consider the rival claims and supporting material before reaching a decision.”

Court battle over funds

A separate battle over the party’s finances unfolded in the high court, which declined to immediately de-freeze bank accounts operated by the Mamata Banerjee faction.

Justice Sougata Bhattacharya directed the bank concerned to file an affidavit explaining the circumstances under which the accounts were frozen and asked the police to submit a report on the progress of their investigation.

Lawyers representing the Mamata faction told the court that eight party bank accounts had been frozen, although earlier proceedings had referred to three accounts.

The court also sought details of the funds lying in the accounts before the next hearing.

Also read: TMC's internal turmoil: Is Trinamool headed Shiv Sena way? | Capital Beat

The dispute over the accounts began after former TMC treasurer Arup Biswas wrote to the bank seeking that they be frozen, citing the party’s internal organisational dispute.

The rival faction subsequently approached the police alleging irregularities in the handling of party funds, prompting the investigation that led to the accounts being frozen.

Two-fold battle for Mamata

The simultaneous proceedings before the EC and the high court highlight the two fronts on which the battle for control of the party is now being fought.

While the EC will examine the rivals’ claims relating to the party’s organisational identity and election symbol in accordance with the law, the court is dealing with questions surrounding access to and operation of the party’s financial assets.

Together, the outcomes of the two cases would determine which faction gains control of the party founded by Mamata in 1998.