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NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged the Election Commission to conclude its inquiry into the rival claims over the party, alleging that the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction had failed to submit its response despite being granted two extensions.In a fresh letter to the poll panel, Mamata said her faction had submitted its comments within the July 6 deadline set by the EC, while the rival camp was granted extensions till July 10 and subsequently July 25.“Since no reply has been received despite extension of time on two occasions, it can be inferred that all our submissions and statements pointed out in our letter dated 6th July 2026 have been admitted and they do not have any answer to that,” she said.Mamata alleged that the rival faction was “trying to create false evidence to develop their case” despite her camp having “firmly disputed” its allegations.“We firmly believe because of the extension of time granted by you, Shri Ritabrata Banerjee and others are trying to create false evidence to develop their case since they do not have any merit in respect of their allegations, which we have firmly disputed,” she said.Seeking an early conclusion to the proceedings, the former West Bengal chief minister said both sides should be given a level playing field and argued that the rival faction should not be granted any further extension beyond July 25.“Since the matter has serious political ramifications in West Bengal, I would request you to conclude the investigation as early as possible without providing them with any further date to submit their comments as sought for by the commission’s letter dated 2nd July 2026,” she said.“Justice must be rooted through confidence and if any further time after 25th July 2026 is given, that confidence is shaken,” the letter added.The dispute reached the EC on July 2 after the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction approached the poll panel claiming to be the “real” All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and seeking recognition of organisational changes it said were approved at a special session on June 22.
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The EC subsequently wrote to both Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee on July 2, seeking their comments on the rival claims and asking them to respond by 5.30 pm on July 6.While the Mamata-led camp submitted its reply within the stipulated deadline, the Ritabrata Banerjee faction sought additional time and was first granted an extension till July 10 and later till July 25.In its response filed earlier this month, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction rejected the rival camp’s claims and maintained that the party’s organisational committees remain valid until 2027 under the AITC constitution.It said the last organisational elections were held in 2022 and argued that the rival faction’s claim that the committees ceased to exist in 2025 was factually and legally untenable.
