TMC Split dispute intensifies as the Election Commission calls rival Trinamool Congress factions for a joint hearing on October 30 over party recognition, symbol and assets.
Qalam Times News Network
New Delhi / Kolkata , October 17, 2026
TMC Split: The Election Commission of India (ECI), led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, has reportedly summoned two rival factions of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for a joint hearing on October 30 to examine their competing claims over the party’s official identity.
The hearing is expected to address the dispute between the faction led by Mamata Banerjee and the rival group headed by Ritabrata Banerjee, who is identified in the supplied report as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. The proceedings could prove significant in determining which faction is recognised as the legitimate political organisation entitled to use the party’s name, election symbol and associated assets.
Rival TMC Factions Asked to Present Their Cases
Ritabrata Banerjee confirmed that his faction had received the notice for the joint hearing and said the Mamata Banerjee-led group had also been asked to attend. A senior leader aligned with Mamata Banerjee separately confirmed that the Kalighat camp had been directed to participate.
The latest development follows a complaint submitted on Thursday by the Mamata-aligned faction. In its representation to state and constitutional authorities, the group alleged that the ruling establishment was using police support to create an appearance of backing for the rival faction. These allegations remain claims made by the complainants.
The proceedings also follow a Supreme Court order dated September 28, which, according to the supplied report, directed the Election Commission to resolve the dispute within three months in response to a writ petition filed by the Mamata-led faction.
Both groups have been asked to submit supporting affidavits from members of their respective organisations by October 26. These documents are expected to form part of the material considered by the Commission before it reaches a decision.
A leader from the Mamata-aligned camp maintained that the faction’s position was legally and constitutionally sound. The leader also expressed concern about the fairness of the proceedings and warned that the group would approach the Supreme Court again if it believed the process had been handled improperly.
Dispute Follows Major Political Shifts
The party dispute has emerged amid substantial changes in the political composition of the West Bengal Assembly and Parliament, according to the report.
It claims that, following the Assembly election results on May 4, more than 60 of the TMC’s 80 MLAs aligned themselves with the Ritabrata-led faction. It further states that 20 of the party’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs left the organisation and joined the Nationalist Congress Party of India (NCPI), described in the report as an ally of the BJP.
The report also claims that four of Mamata Banerjee’s 13 Rajya Sabha members resigned and subsequently returned to the Upper House as BJP nominees.
These reported developments have raised the stakes in the contest over the party’s formal recognition. The Election Commission’s decision could have important consequences for the organisation’s leadership, electoral identity and control over its recognised symbol and assets.
For now, both factions are preparing to present their positions before the Commission. The October 30 hearing is expected to be a key stage in a dispute whose outcome will depend on the evidence submitted and the applicable legal framework.
