The Calcutta High Court on Thursday questioned the West Bengal speaker’s decision to recognise expelled Trinamool Congress MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly without the consent of the political party, The Hindu reported.
On June 3, Ritabrata Banerjee claimed that Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose had accepted the claim of 58 of the party’s 80 MLAs to be the main Opposition in the state.
The stand taken by the 58 MLAs is being viewed as a challenge to party chief Mamata Banerjee, who is supporting Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Opposition leader in the House.
While hearing a petition filed by the Trinamool Congress challenging Bose’s decision, the bench observed that the person appointed as the Leader of the Opposition did not belong to any political party.
“He was expelled,” The Hindu quoted the bench as saying. “Can the speaker recognise a rebel leader as the leader of the Opposition without the consent of a political party?”
In response, the state, represented by Additional Advocate General Bilwadal Bhattacharya, sought time to file an affidavit along with all relevant records, including the order under challenge.
Advocate and TMC MP Kalyan Bandopadhyay, appearing for the petitioners, had submitted before the court that the Bose’s decision violated the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which governs the relationship between a political party and its MLAs.
The next hearing is slated for June 16.
TMC rift
Rebel TMC MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, who have been expelled from the party, have alleged that 14 of the signatures were forged in documents submitted to Bose in support of Chattopadhyay’s appointment.
On June 2, TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee sent a fresh letter to Bose, reiterating the party’s decision to appoint Chattopadhyay as leader of the Opposition.
A first information report was registered based on complaints filed by the expelled MLAs. The police are investigating Abhishek Banerjee, who signed the letter, in connection with the case.
On Thursday, the High Court granted interim protection from arrest to the TMC national general secretary in the case.
Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.
Also Read: Why the Trinamool Congress is collapsing like a house of cards
You’ve read Scroll.
Now help sustain it
Scroll is funded by readers, not corporate owners. If you believe our work matters, support our newsroom. Become a member today!
We’re not driven by clicks or corporate interests – just honest, independent reporting. Keep us going. Support Scroll today!