TMC feud: Rebel faction stakes claim before EC, Mamata camp questions audience to 'expelled' leaders

Business To Business, New Delhi, 02^nd July, 2026:   The battle for control of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) intensified on Thursday, with the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction staking its claim over the party before the Election Commission, while the Mamata Banerjee-led camp questioned the poll body's decision to grant a hearing to leaders it says have been expelled.
A delegation headed by Ritabrata Banerjee met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two Election Commissioners in New Delhi to present its case before the poll panel.
The TMC criticised the meeting, arguing that only authorised signatories of a recognised political party are entitled to seek an official audience with the Election Commission and that the rebel leaders no longer have any authority to represent the party.
"We are thankful that the full bench of the Election Commission gave us a patient hearing. We have made our points and are hopeful that the Election Commission will get back to us very shortly," Banerjee told reporters after the meeting.
The dispute marks a further escalation in the ongoing struggle between the rival factions over the party's organisational control, name and election symbol.