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Calcutta HC Upholds Speaker's Decision Amid TMC Leadership Dispute
The Calcutta High Court has declined to issue a stay on the Speaker’s decision regarding the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, emphasizing the Speaker's authority to determine which faction holds the greatest numerical strength. The court noted that among the 80 Trinamool Congress (TMC) members, 58 had collectively asserted their dominance by presenting a joint request to the Speaker.
The ruling comes amidst a contentious backdrop, where Ritabrata, who was appointed LoP on June 3, claims to have the support of 58 MLAs. Meanwhile, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has sought recognition for Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as LoP, citing established protocols. After meeting with the Speaker, Ritabrata expressed confidence, stating that his faction, representing more than two-thirds of the TMC MLAs, was recognized as the principal opposition.
“This two-thirds strong legislative team of the Trinamool Congress inside the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly does not believe in ‘I’, it believes in ‘we’. Whatever norms are framed out, we have followed every norm, and that’s why we have been accepted as the principal opposition,”
Ritabrata also appealed to party president Mamata Banerjee for guidance in fortifying their position. Chattopadhyay, however, has challenged the Speaker’s decision, arguing that it disregards the political party's consensus in favor of a factional choice. This dispute intensified after allegations emerged of signature forgery against Banerjee, leading to an FIR and subsequent expulsion of the dissenting MLAs.
During the court proceedings, the Speaker defended his choice, highlighting the unprecedented situation where a significant majority of legislators personally supported Ritabrata. The court has yet to find a compelling reason to intervene, leaving the TMC leadership battle unresolved as both factions vie for legitimacy.
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