1 hr ago
TMC Questions Election Commission Hearing Timing Amid BRICS Summit
The Trinamool Congress is involved in a disagreement about who controls the party.
Two groups have asked the Election Commission to recognise them as the legitimate organisation.
The commission will hear both groups on September 12.
The Mamata Banerjee side questioned why the hearing is scheduled during the BRICS Summit and on a Saturday.
It still said it would attend because the commission is a constitutional body.
The other group is led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
The dispute includes the party’s name, money, organisational control and election symbol.
The decision matters because assembly bypolls are coming soon.
Both groups have announced candidates for those elections.
The Trinamool Congress questioned the Election Commission’s decision to hold a September 12 hearing during the BRICS Summit.
The hearing concerns competing claims over the party’s organisational control, name, assets and election symbol.
The Election Commission will meet the Ritabrata Banerjee-led group at 11 a.m. and the Mamata Banerjee side at noon in New Delhi.
The Mamata Banerjee side says its organisational committees remain valid and has urged the commission to conclude the inquiry quickly.
Both sides have announced candidates for the October 6 bypolls and plan to use the party’s name and symbol, if permitted.
- Who
- The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress side and the Ritabrata Banerjee-led group are involved, with the Election Commission hearing their competing claims.
- What
- The Election Commission is hearing a dispute over control of the party, its name, financial assets and election symbol.
- Where
- The meetings will take place at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management in Dwarka, New Delhi.
- When
- The separate meetings are scheduled for September 12, ahead of the October 6 assembly bypolls.
- Why
- The Ritabrata Banerjee-led group has claimed organisational control, while the Mamata Banerjee side disputes that claim and says its organisational committees remain valid.
Mamata Banerjee side
Ritabrata Banerjee-led group
Party control
Mamata Banerjee side
The side says Mamata Banerjee, the party’s founder chairperson, represents the Trinamool Congress and that its organisational committees remain valid under the party constitution.
Ritabrata Banerjee-led group
The group has approached the Election Commission claiming control of the party’s organisation, name, assets and electoral symbol.
Election Commission process
Mamata Banerjee side
The side says it responded within the commission’s deadline, objected to further extensions for the other group and requested that the inquiry be concluded quickly.
Ritabrata Banerjee-led group
The group sought additional time to respond to the Election Commission’s notices and was granted extensions until July 25.
Upcoming bypolls
Mamata Banerjee side
The side has announced candidates and says the party should retain its name and symbol for the contests.
Ritabrata Banerjee-led group
The group also intends to contest using the Trinamool name and symbol, but says it is prepared to fight as independents if the dispute is unresolved before nominations close.
Key facts
- Hearing date
- September 12
- Hearing venue
- India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management, Dwarka, New Delhi
- Scheduled times
- Ritabrata Banerjee-led group at 11 a.m.; Mamata Banerjee side at noon
- Election at stake
- Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar on October 6
- Nomination deadline
- September 16
- Dispute scope
- Organisational control, party name, financial assets and electoral symbol
- Previous deadline extensions
- The Ritabrata group received extensions from July 6 to July 10 and then to July 25
Quotes
Saket Gokhale
National spokesperson of the Trinamool Congress
“The meeting is happening on a Saturday, for the first time ever not even in the main office, while the BRICS summit is on. Is this purely a coincidence? The timing of the meeting looks totally devious. But the Election Commission (EC) is a high constitutional body, so we will attend the meeting.”
telegraphindia.com
“In its wisdom, the Constitution has put four referees in charge -- the West Bengal Assembly speaker, the Lok Sabha speaker, the EC and the SC. We trust the Constitution.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Related news
Nandigram Bypoll Puts Trinamool Name, Symbol Dispute Center Stage
Election Commission Invites TMC Factions for Delhi Meetings
Election Commission to Hear TMC Factions Over Party Symbol Claims
Mamata Presses Election Commission Over TMC Symbol, Funds
Rebel TMC Challenges Mamata Banerjee to Contest Nandigram Bypoll
Calcutta High Court Denies Urgent Hearing to Rebel Faction Plea
Bengal Assembly Passes Controversial University Staff Transfer Bill
