The Calcutta High Court has dealt a significant setback to Trinamool Congress chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, refusing to stay the Speaker’s decision recognising rebel MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly. The next hearing has been scheduled for July 28.
The development stems from a dramatic internal crisis that has gripped the Trinamool Congress following the recent Bengal assembly election results. Mamata Banerjee and virtually all of the party’s top leaders suffered crushing defeats at the polls. Of the 80 TMC MLAs who won seats, as many as 59 subsequently broke away and raised the banner of rebellion — a revolt led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
Citing majority support among elected MLAs, Ritabrata Banerjee approached Speaker Ratin Basu seeking formal recognition as Leader of Opposition. With numerical strength clearly on his side, the Speaker acceded to the request and issued an official order accordingly.
In response, the Mamata faction suspended Ritabrata Banerjee from the party on June 1, citing anti-party activities. TMC then moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the Speaker’s decision and seeking a stay. Party lawyers argued that a suspended member could not legitimately be recognised as Opposition Leader, and contended that the Speaker had acted unilaterally without conducting any preliminary inquiry. They further argued that changing the opposition leader purely on the basis of numerical strength, without regard to the party leadership’s position, was unconstitutional.
Responding to these arguments, Justice Krishnarao questioned the Speaker on how the position was conferred on a suspended individual while TMC’s representation was still pending consideration. The Assembly Secretary, in reply, maintained that numerical strength is the cornerstone of democracy, and that the Speaker had no option but to act on the majority of elected MLAs.
Justice Krishnarao noted that the matter requires a full hearing and adjourned the case to July 28, declining in the meantime to stay the Speaker’s order. All parties have been directed to file their affidavits before the next date. As matters stand, Ritabrata Banerjee will continue as Leader of Opposition in the Bengal assembly until further orders from the court.