The political turmoil within West Bengal’s ruling establishment intensified on Thursday after the Calcutta High Court declined to grant interim relief in a petition challenging the Assembly Speaker’s decision to appoint Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP). The court’s order ensures that Banerjee will continue to hold the position until further directions are issued.
Hearing the matter, Justice Krishna Rao made it clear that there would be no immediate alteration to the current arrangement. The court directed all parties involved to complete the exchange of affidavits before the next stage of proceedings. Respondents have been given three weeks to file their affidavit in opposition, while the petitioner has been granted an additional two weeks to submit a reply.
The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for July 28. Until then, the Speaker’s decision recognizing Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly will remain effective.
The legal development comes amid a deepening political divide within the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Banerjee, who heads the breakaway faction known as the “New TMC,” has claimed that his camp now enjoys the support of 64 MLAs in the Assembly. According to him, the names of these legislators have already been submitted to Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose.
Speaking after attending the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected MLAs Debangshu Panda of the BJP and Swati Khandakar of the TMC, Banerjee asserted that the strength of his faction was continuing to grow. He indicated that more legislators could join his camp in the coming days as discussions with party members remained ongoing.
Banerjee further argued that a floor test in the Assembly would be the most transparent and democratic way to determine which faction commands the support of the majority of legislators. He maintained that such an exercise would settle competing claims over leadership and support within the party.
The dissident leader had earlier sought formal recognition for his faction in the Assembly by submitting a list bearing the signatures of 58 MLAs. He claimed that this represented more than two-thirds of the TMC’s legislative strength, strengthening his case for recognition as a separate bloc.
Along with the list of supporting legislators, Banerjee had requested that he be designated as the Leader of the Opposition. The Speaker subsequently accepted his claim and officially notified his appointment, a move that triggered the legal challenge now before the High Court.
The court’s refusal to grant interim relief is being viewed as a setback for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her supporters, who have opposed the recognition of the dissident faction. With the matter now set for detailed consideration in July, both the legal and political battles surrounding the opposition leadership in the Assembly are expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
As rival factions continue to stake competing claims over legislative support, the possibility of a floor test remains a key issue that could shape the future political landscape of West Bengal.
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