TMC rebels await official status after breaking off from Mamata Banerjee's leadership

Two factions of rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmakers are in limbo, awaiting official recognition after breaking away from Mamata Banerjee's leadership.

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The speaker’s office had asked for additional documents such as the party’s registration with the Election Commission, details of the organisation and the record of the past elections fought by the party. We have submitted all these documents. Our party president had come to Lok Sabha Speaker’s office. Now that the monsoon session is over, we are hopeful the speaker will soon take a favourable decision.

In the West Bengal assembly, 62 legislators led by Ritabrata Banerjee are seeking to be recognized as the Trinamool Congress, the party formerly led by Mamata Banerjee. Meanwhile, in the Lok Sabha, 20 MPs under Sudip Bandyopadhyay's leadership intend to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a party that supports the National Democratic Alliance.

Officials indicate that the timeline for resolving these issues remains unclear. The rebel MPs submitted a petition to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on June 14, requesting recognition of their merger with NCPI. Although Birla allotted them separate seating during the monsoon session, the merger has not yet been formally approved. MP Rachana Banerjee submitted a similar letter the following day.

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The process of recognition of NCPI might be lengthy and depend on some external factors -- including a pending case in the Supreme Court filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray against the Election Commission’s decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena.

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a prominent figure among the rebel TMC MPs, stated that the Speaker's office requested additional documents, including the party's registration with the Election Commission and details of past elections. These have been submitted, and the MPs are hopeful for a favorable decision after the monsoon session concluded.

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It is better to wait for the court’s instructions and let the court decide on all issues related to symbol, party ownership, and assets.

The recognition process for NCPI could be lengthy and is influenced by external factors, notably a pending Supreme Court case filed by Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) against the Election Commission's decision to recognize the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena. The Election Commission is closely watching this case as it deliberates on the TMC's symbol and party ownership. Officials suggest that the process of freezing the TMC's "two-flowers" symbol has begun, and it is likely that one of the factions will pursue legal action. A functionary commented, "It is better to wait for the court’s instructions and let the court decide on all issues related to symbol, party ownership, and assets."

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We have submitted all our documents and have full faith in EC. Unlike the former CM (Mamata Banerjee) we a