Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Calcutta High Court Lets Rebel TMC MLA Continue As LoP
Ritabrata Banerjee is a rebel member of the TMC party in West Bengal.
He was appointed Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly.
Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, who belongs to the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction, challenged that appointment in court.
He argued that Banerjee should not hold the position.
On Tuesday, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court considered the challenge.
The court did not remove Banerjee from the position immediately.
Instead, it told a single bench to decide the main case within two months.
Banerjee will remain Leader of Opposition until that decision is made.
The Calcutta High Court allowed rebel TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee to continue as West Bengal Assembly Leader of Opposition for now.
A division bench directed a single bench to decide the challenge to Banerjee’s appointment within two months.
The case was filed by Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction.
Chattopadhyay is challenging Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose’s decision to appoint Banerjee as Leader of Opposition.
The single bench had earlier declined interim relief against the appointment on June 18, prompting Chattopadhyay’s appeal.
- Who
- Rebel TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, petitioner Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose, and the Calcutta High Court division bench.
- What
- The court allowed Banerjee to continue as Leader of Opposition while a single bench considers the challenge to his appointment.
- When
- Tuesday, August 18, 2026; the single bench had earlier ruled on June 18.
- Where
- The Calcutta High Court and the West Bengal Assembly.
- Why
- Chattopadhyay challenged Speaker Rathindra Bose’s decision to appoint Banerjee as Leader of Opposition.
Mamata Banerjee-led TMC Faction
Ritabrata Banerjee’s Rebel Faction
Validity of the appointment
Mamata Banerjee-led TMC Faction
Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay is challenging the Speaker’s decision to reject his name and appoint Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition.
Ritabrata Banerjee’s Rebel Faction
Ritabrata Banerjee’s appointment remains effective for now, and he continues to lead the opposition in the Assembly while the case is decided.
Political representation
Mamata Banerjee-led TMC Faction
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction disputes Banerjee’s claim to represent the TMC in the Assembly.
Ritabrata Banerjee’s Rebel Faction
Banerjee leads a group of rebel TMC MLAs and claims to be the “real TMC.”
- Appointee
- Ritabrata Banerjee, a rebel TMC MLA
- Position
- Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly
- Petitioner
- Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, an MLA from the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction
- Appointment challenged
- Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose appointed Banerjee as Leader of Opposition
- Court order
- A division bench allowed Banerjee to continue for now
- Next step
- A single bench must decide the challenge within two months
- Earlier ruling
- The single bench declined interim relief against the appointment on June 18, 2026
