TMC Moves Calcutta High Court Challenging WB Assembly Speaker's Recognition Of Rebel TMC Leader Ritabrata Banerjee As LoP

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the decision of Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose to recognise Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

According to reports, the ruling party has contended that the Speaker's decision to appoint Ritabrata Banerjee as LoP is contrary to established parliamentary norms and procedures. The petition is understood to seek judicial review of the Speaker's decision and recognition of the party's nominee, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, for the post.

The matter was mentioned by former TMC candidate and Senior Advocate Sirsanya Bandopadhyay before a bench of Justice Krishna Rao, who listed the matter on June 11.

The case stems from an unprecedented split within the TMC legislature party. Last week, a group of rebel MLAs elected Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition and secured formal recognition from the Speaker. Reports indicate that 58 MLAs backed the move, following which the Speaker accorded recognition to Banerjee as LoP.

The decision triggered sharp opposition from the party leadership, which subsequently resolved to challenge the Speaker's action before the High Court. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee had earlier stated that the party believed the Speaker's decision violated parliamentary procedures and applicable rules.

The Speaker had earlier defended his decision, reportedly observing that Ritabrata Banerjee's faction possessed the requisite numerical strength and that the expulsion proceedings initiated by the party against certain MLAs did not comply with the party's own constitutional requirements.

The controversy has also overlapped with disputes relating to alleged forged signatures on a resolution seeking appointment of Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as LoP, which is presently the subject matter of a separate criminal investigation.

The Calcutta High Court is now expected to examine the legality of the Speaker's decision recognising Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition and the competing claims regarding leadership of the opposition bloc in the Assembly.