TMC Alleges BJP Influence Over Election Commission Amid Rift With Rebel Faction

TMC Alleges BJP Influence Over Election Commission Amid Rift With Rebel Faction

By Kunal Chatterjee

Senior leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) after it granted an audience to a rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee. The Mamata Banerjee-led party accused the constitutional body of acting under the influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the Commission was no longer functioning independently.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose questioned the ECI's decision to recognise individuals who had allegedly been expelled from the party for violating organisational discipline. She argued that, under the Commission's own rules, only duly authorised representatives of a recognised political party are entitled to meet the Commission or submit official representations.

"It is now evident before the nation that the Election Commission of India is no longer functioning independently. The Election Commission is being directed by the BJP, particularly by Union Home Minister Amit Shah," Ghose alleged. She further maintained that only representatives authorised by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) could present the party's official position before the Commission.

Ghose also cited the Supreme Court's 2023 judgment in the Shiv Sena case, arguing that Members of Parliament or Members of the Legislative Assembly cannot independently decide to merge a political party. According to her, only the political party itself, through its recognised organisational structure, has the authority to take such a decision.

Lok Sabha MP Saugata Roy echoed these concerns, describing the Election Commission's decision to meet the rebel group as unprecedented. He alleged, “The meeting had taken place at the direction of Union Home Minister Amit Shah as part of an effort to engineer splits within regional political parties.” Roy also criticised the Commission for allowing leaders who had allegedly been expelled from the party to present themselves as legitimate representatives without any authorisation from party chairperson Mamata Banerjee.

Roy referred to earlier attempts by opposition Members of Parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, though he acknowledged that the process had not progressed. He also made allegations regarding financial irregularities linked to the Ram Mandir fund, claiming that such resources were being used to encourage political defections.

The TMC leader further condemned the recent egg-throwing incident involving party MP Mahua Moitra in Kaliganj, Nadia. He said he would seek clarification from the Lok Sabha Speaker on whether an elected Member of Parliament could be prevented from freely visiting her own constituency.

On the legal aspects of the dispute, Roy argued, “The Anti-Defection Law does not permit a legislative party to unilaterally merge with another political party. The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, contains no provision allowing a small group of legislators to claim a recognised party's official election symbol.”

Meanwhile, the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee met the full bench of the Election Commission in New Delhi. The delegation, comprising nine MLAs and one former minister, informed Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two Election Commissioners that it had constituted a new national working committee on June 22, excluding both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee.

Ritabrata claimed, “Our team enjoyed the support of two-thirds of the party's MLAs, along with former ministers, councillors and Zilla Parishad members.” While asserting that his group represented the "real Trinamool Congress," he said “There was no need to formally stake a claim over the party's Twin Flowers election symbol because the majority of legislators were already with us.”

The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, however, rejected these assertions outright. Party leaders maintained that the recognised organisation continues to function under Mamata Banerjee's leadership and insisted that expelled members have no legal or constitutional authority to claim the party's identity, election symbol or organisational structure. The party also indicated that it may submit a formal representation to the Election Commission while demanding the immediate restoration of its bank account.