New Delhi, August 25: The political landscape in West Bengal is heating up as the ‘real Trinamool’ battle intensifies. Following the election results in May, a dispute within the Trinamool Congress has split the party into two factions. Both groups claim to be the legitimate successors of the party, and their conflict has escalated from the assembly to the streets.
The rebel faction has gained significant support from Trinamool legislators, leading to the recognition of its leader, Ritabrata Banerjee, as the leader of the opposition.
The first major confrontation occurred on July 21 in Kolkata, a date of special significance for the Trinamool Congress, as it marks Martyrs’ Day. This event commemorates the police firing on Youth Congress workers in 1993, which was led by Mamata Banerjee at the time.
Now, the political struggle is set to take another turn on August 28, coinciding with the founding day of the Trinamool Congress Student Council. Like July 21, both factions are preparing to hold grand events separately.
Political analysts and leaders will closely watch which faction can attract a larger crowd and the messages conveyed in their speeches.
On one side is Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Kalighat faction,’ whose strength is attributed to her personal popularity and the party’s core legacy. On the other side is Ritabrata Banerjee’s faction, which holds a numerical advantage in the assembly and has institutional recognition.
The Kalighat faction argues that having a majority in the assembly does not diminish Mamata Banerjee’s emotional and historical significance. This group has been built around her personality, viewing her aggressive movements against the Left Front government and the journey to power in 2011 as its greatest strengths.
Mamata Banerjee’s leadership style has long been highly personal and centralized. Decisions within the party are often made from her residence in Kalighat, leading to the saying that there is only ‘one position’ in the Trinamool, while other leaders are merely ‘lampposts’ shining in the light of her popularity.
Conversely, Ritabrata Banerjee’s faction claims to be the practical successor of the Trinamool’s organizational strength, backed by around 60 legislators. The recognition of Ritabrata as the leader of the opposition has also provided this faction with institutional strength.
This faction’s strength is not solely due to Ritabrata Banerjee but also includes support from leaders like Firhad Hakim, Madan Mitra, Anubrata Mandal, and Javed Khan, who were once considered close to Mamata Banerjee.
On July 21, the Ritabrata faction organized a parallel rally on Mayo Road in Kolkata, approximately three kilometers away from Mamata Banerjee’s gathering at Birla Planetarium.
Reports indicate that both rallies drew large crowds, clearly highlighting the deepening divide within the party.
The upcoming event on August 28 is deemed crucial for student politics. The TMC Student Council has long been a stronghold for the party in colleges and universities.
Both factions believe that whoever establishes influence over the TMC Student Council will not only gain the support of young activists but also play a vital role in defining the ideological identity of the ‘real Trinamool.’
This situation is somewhat reminiscent of the Shiv Sena split in Maharashtra, where ultimately the election commission and courts had to determine the party’s true successor.
In West Bengal, the legitimacy of the Trinamool may also be decided through constitutional institutions rather than rallies and numbers in the future. However, for now, both factions are focused on strengthening their grip on the student organization, and another significant chapter in the ‘real Trinamool’ battle will be written on August 28 in Kolkata.
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