NEW DELHI: West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh on Saturday described the takeover of the All India Trinamool Congress headquarters by a rebel faction as the party’s “internal matter”, saying the Speaker and the law would determine who occupies party offices and Assembly seats.“This is TMC’s internal matter. Who occupies offices or Assembly seats will be decided by the Speaker and the law. But such behaviour should not happen. In democracy, the opposition has a critical role to guide government and ensure good governance,” Ghosh told reporters.His remarks came a day after a rebel faction led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee took control of the party’s Metropolitan headquarters in Kolkata, escalating the internal power struggle within the TMC.The development prompted heavy deployment of CRPF personnel and Kolkata Police outside the party office on Friday.The rebel faction moved into the EM Bypass office, which has served as the party’s organisational headquarters since 2022, after approaching the Election Commission of India to stake its claim over the party’s name, funds and twin-flower election symbol.Accompanied by Firhad Hakim, Javed Khan and Akhruzzaman, Ritabrata Banerjee entered the office and replaced signage, installing senior MLA Arup Roy as the new chairman in place of Mamata Banerjee.The faction claimed the building’s lease had expired and that a fresh agreement had been signed under its working committee.“This is our party office, and it will remain our party office. The key to the main gate will be with us,” Akhruzzaman said, while adding that the faction continued to respect photographs of Mamata Banerjee displayed inside the office but rejected the leadership of Abhishek Banerjee.The takeover triggered strong protests from leaders loyal to Mamata Banerjee, who lodged police complaints against the rebel faction.Meanwhile, Kolkata Police said they would verify the ownership and lease documents of the building before allowing normal political activities to resume.The Election Commission has directed both the Mamata Banerjee camp and the Ritabrata Banerjee faction to submit their organisational claims and counterclaims by 5.30 pm on July 6.Ghosh also criticised Abhishek Banerjee over his remarks during the Assembly election campaign after the Calcutta High Court declined to grant immediate relief on his plea challenging a proposal to collect his voice sample in connection with the ‘DJ’ remarks case.“Their statements during the election time have been provocative. Many of our party workers were attacked, their homes were destroyed in post-poll violence. Such people should not remain outside; jail is the right place for them,” Ghosh said.
