TMC Rebel Faction Meets Election Commission Amid Party Leadership Dispute
A delegation led by rebel TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee met the Election Commission in New Delhi regarding party leadership recognition ahead of West Bengal by-elections.
Quick Look
A five-member rebel Trinamool Congress delegation led by Ritabrata Banerjee met the Election Commission in New Delhi to claim legitimate party leadership amid a factional dispute ahead of West Bengal by-elections.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
A rebel faction of the All India Trinamool Congress distanced themselves from Mamata Banerjee after assembly poll defeat to the BJP.
Synopsis
A rebel Trinamool Congress faction met the Election Commission regarding party leadership. The delegation, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, sought recognition as the legitimate party leadership. This meeting precedes nominations for upcoming West Bengal by-elections. The Election Commission scheduled the meeting for September 12, 2026. The by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar will occur on October 6.
New Delhi: A five-member delegation representing the rebel faction of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, arrived at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in Delhi on Saturday for a meeting with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The delegation includes Ritabrata Banerjee, Akhruzzaman, Arup Roy, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Riju Datta.
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Banerjee heads a group of around 60 of the 80 newly elected TMC MLAs who distanced themselves from former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the party's defeat to the BJP in the Assembly polls held in April.
Both factions have staked claim to being the "real" Trinamool Congress and approached the Election Commission seeking recognition as the party's legitimate leadership.
Live Events
On Wedneday, the ECI had written to Banerjee regarding representations concerning the TMC amid a dispute over the party's name, election symbol and funds between the Mamata Banerjee-led faction and the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
In its letter to Banerjee, the ECI said, "The Commission has decided to give an appointment to your delegation comprising of five members for a meeting on 12.09.2026 (Saturday) at 11:00 AM" at the India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM), Sector-13, Dwarka, Delhi.
Also Read: Abhishek Banerjee seeks SC direction on disqualification of 20 TMC MPs
The ECI's meeting with the Banerjee-led delegation comes ahead of the September 16 deadline for filing nominations for the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls in West Bengal.
The polling will be conducted on October 6 (Tuesday), and the counting of votes will take place on October 9 (Friday). The Commission stated that the entire election process is slated for completion before October 11, 2026.
In West Bengal, bypolls were necessitated in Rejinagar and Nandigram following the resignations of Humayun Kabir and Suvendu Adhikari, respectively.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
By-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar will occur on October 6.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will the Election Commission recognize the rebel faction as the legitimate TMC leadership?
