Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and former West Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjeeappears to be navigating one of her toughest political phases in recent times, as a series of setbacks and internal disruptions converge within days. From a rebel leader, Ritabrata Banerjee, staking claim to the Leader of Opposition post, to a key aide stepping down and fresh scrutiny from central agencies, the developments signal growing turbulence for the party just weeks after its electoral setback against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal.
Expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee on Wednesday said the West Bengal Assembly speaker had accepted the rebel camp's bid to be recognised as the party's legislature wing and urged Mamata Banerjee to serve as its chief adviser. 58 dissident MLAs have backed legislator Ritabrata Banerjee.
"The TMC legislative party is a team of 58 MLAs who won on the TMC symbol. Two other MLAs are likely to join us. Once they formally extend their support, our strength will rise further," Ritabrata Banerjee said, as quoted by PTI.
Read More -Why TMC 'Revolt' Is Not About Mamata, But Abhishek Banerjee
TMC's rebel camp also unveiled a new leadership structure for the legislature party. While Banerjee requested to Mamata to guide the legislature party, he announced that Akhruzzaman had been appointed chief whip, while veteran legislators Javed Ahmed Khan, Sandeepan Saha, Sabina Yasmin and Shiuli Saha would serve as deputy leaders.
Firhad Hakim, a senior leader of the Trinamool Congress, will resign as the Mayor of Kolkata. TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has accepted his request to step down, TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh said on Wednesday.
Hakim is one of the party's most prominent leaders and a close aide of Mamata Banerjee. This comes days after the party was rocked by a series of resignations by party councillors in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).
The Enforcement Directorate served a summons to Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, the second-in-command after Mamata Banerjee. The ED has asked him to appear before it on June 15 in connection with the primary school recruitment irregularities case.
A team of ED officers visited Banerjee's Kalighat Road residence in south Kolkata in the evening, and delivered the summons to a member of his staff as he was not present, they said.
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