3 weeks ago
Ghosh attacks NCPI, Ritabrata faction over Modi, Nabanna meetings
In West Bengal, a big political party called the Trinamool Congress has split into different groups.
One group still supports Mamata Banerjee.
Another group is led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
A third group, called the NCPI, was formed by leaders who left the party.
Some of these leaders went to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
Others went to meet the Chief Minister of West Bengal to ask for courts that protect voters.
A leader named Kunal Ghosh said these groups are secretly working with the BJP party.
The groups said they were just doing their jobs to help voters.
The BJP said the fighting shows the Trinamool Congress is falling apart.
Everyone is arguing because an election is coming soon.
Mamata Banerjee camp-aligned TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of creating a "managed opposition" in West Bengal.
More than 40 MPs from NDA constituents, including the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), attended a breakfast meeting hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
A 13-member delegation of the Ritabrata Banerjee-led TMC faction met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna to seek regional tribunals for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Ghosh alleged the BJP was rehabilitating leaders accused in scams, including the Saradha chit fund case, while claiming probity.
Sixty-five of the TMC's 80 MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee for Leader of the Opposition, and 21 Lok Sabha MPs aligned with the NCPI, now an NDA ally.
- Who
- TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh and the Mamata Banerjee camp on one side; the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction, the NCPI, the BJP, PM Narendra Modi, and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on the other.
- What
- The Mamata camp accused the BJP of creating a "managed opposition" in West Bengal, citing the NCPI's breakfast meeting with Modi and the Ritabrata faction's talks at Nabanna.
- Where
- New Delhi, for the PM's breakfast meeting, and Nabanna in Kolkata, West Bengal, for the faction's talks.
- When
- Friday, August 7, against the backdrop of a recent split within the Trinamool Congress.
- Why
- The rival camps are contesting legitimacy after the TMC split, including over demands for regional tribunals during the electoral roll revision, ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Mamata Banerjee camp
BJP, NCPI and Ritabrata faction
Managed opposition
Mamata Banerjee camp
The BJP is creating a 'managed opposition' using TMC breakaway groups as 'B-teams' to weaken anti-establishment politics in the state.
BJP, NCPI and Ritabrata faction
The BJP neither needs nor creates B-teams; the large-scale desertion of MLAs and MPs is the result of Mamata Banerjee's authoritarian functioning.
Purpose of the Nabanna meeting
Mamata Banerjee camp
The faction's meeting with the chief minister shows the dissidents operate in political sync with the BJP.
BJP, NCPI and Ritabrata faction
The meeting was solely to raise the substantive demand for regional tribunals during the SIR process and had nothing to do with political realignment.
Political morality
Mamata Banerjee camp
The BJP rehabilitates leaders accused in major scams, such as the Saradha chit fund case, while claiming to pursue probity in public life.
BJP, NCPI and Ritabrata faction
The BJP says rival factions accusing each other of betrayal and corruption expose the 'complete collapse' of the Trinamool Congress and its internal crisis.
Key facts
- Date
- August 7 (Friday), reported by PTI from Kolkata
- Political battle
- Mamata Banerjee camp vs NCPI and Ritabrata Banerjee faction
- PM's breakfast meeting
- Over 40 MPs from NDA constituents, including NCPI, met Narendra Modi in New Delhi
- Nabanna delegation
- 13-member delegation of the Ritabrata faction met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari
- Faction's demand
- Regional tribunals to hear disputes during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- MLA support
- 65 of the TMC's 80 MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee for Leader of the Opposition
- Lok Sabha MPs
- 21 MPs aligned with the NCPI, awaiting Speaker Om Birla's decision on anti-defection disqualification petitions
- Key allegation
- BJP fashioning a 'managed opposition'; BJP says the TMC revolt stems from Mamata Banerjee's leadership
Quotes
Spokesperson for the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction
Representative of Ritabrata Banerjee’s TMC faction
“Instead of responding to our substantive demand for regional tribunals to protect genuine voters during the SIR process, the Kalighat leadership is resorting to abuse and name‑calling.”
theprint.in
“'B-Team traitors No. 1' met the PM, while 'B-Team traitors No. 2' went to Nabanna to meet the chief minister.”
theprint.in
Sources
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