Mamata asks EC to take swift call on TMC, rebel faction
Times of India | 1 September 2026
Kolkata: In a letter to the Election Commission, Trinamool chairperson and ex-CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday sought a swift decision on the status of her party and the rebel faction led by Uluberia MLA Ritabrata Banerjee.
A large number of Trinamool MLAs had split with the party following the assembly elections in Bengal under Ritabrata’s leadership.
Mamata’s letter argued that the “special session” convened by the rebel faction at Novotel, Kolkata on June 22, was illegal and contrary to Trinamool’s constitution.
To press her point, she cited a letter Amdanga MLA Pirzada Kashem Siddique wrote to the EC, which said no prior notice was given about the session.
“In that communication, several serious procedural and legal defects and irregularities relating to the supposed special session were specifically brought to EC’s attention,” she wrote.
“(The exercise) was vitiated by fundamental irregularities and therefore should not be regarded as a valid exercise in the eyes of the law,” the ex-CM argued.
She further said the circumstances raised questions about how MLAs elected under her leadership could undertake such an exercise.
Speaker’s 7-day deadline ends today
The seven-day deadline set by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for 20 rebel Trinamool MPs to respond to notices seeking their disqualification expires Tuesday. The notices were issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat on Aug 25.
The deadline coincides with proceedings in the Supreme Court, which is hearing a plea by Trinamool questions the delay in deciding on disqualification matters.