Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim officially resigned from his post on Wednesday, a move approved by Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee. This development further escalates a significant internal crisis within the party, following hours after expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee was formally recognized as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.
Ritabrata Banerjee, who was previously expelled from the Trinamool Congress for alleged anti-party activities, garnered the support of 60 legislators, leading to his recognition by Assembly Speaker Rathindranath Bose. This formal appointment saw Ritabrata taking charge of the LoP's chamber, signaling a powerful challenge to the existing party hierarchy.
Rebellion Challenges Party Leadership
Despite the escalating confrontation, Ritabrata Banerjee insisted that the rebel faction was not challenging Mamata Banerjee's ultimate leadership. He stated, "We are the principal opposition. We have fought as a team," and expressed a desire for Mamata Banerjee to continue advising them. However, he also took a direct swipe at TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, characterizing the rebellion as a "collective fight against individualism."
The day began with 58 Trinamool MLAs submitting a letter to the Speaker, proposing Ritabrata as Leader of the Opposition. This faction claimed to represent the party's "real" legislative wing. Alongside Ritabrata, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha, Sabina Yasmin, and Seuli Saha were named deputy leaders in the House, with Akhruzzaman appointed as chief whip.
Forgery Allegations and CID Probe
This move directly countered a proposal submitted last week by Abhishek Banerjee, who had recommended Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay for Leader of the Opposition and Firhad Hakim as chief whip. Abhishek's proposal was ultimately rejected after Ritabrata and Sandipan alleged that signatures of several Trinamool MLAs backing Sobhandeb had been forged. These serious allegations prompted the ordering of a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigation, which has since summoned Abhishek Banerjee for questioning in connection with the matter.
The political turmoil intensified on Monday when the Trinamool Congress expelled both Ritabrata and Sandipan amid widespread speculation that they were attempting to engineer a split within the party. Despite these actions, Ritabrata has maintained that the rebel legislators are not seeking to break away from the Trinamool Congress and intend to continue functioning under Mamata Banerjee's leadership.