Calcutta High Court Denies Interim Relief in Ritabrata Banerjee's Case
The Calcutta High Court has denied interim relief in the case concerning Ritabrata Banerjee's appointment as the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal. The court's ruling maintains the Speaker's decision amid ongoing political tensions within the TMC. Banerjee claims to have the support of 64 MLAs and is pushing for a floor test to validate his faction's strength. This article delves into the implications of the court's decision and the evolving political landscape in West Bengal.
| Jun 18, 2026, 11:57 IST
Court's Decision on Ritabrata Banerjee's Appointment
In a significant setback for Mamata Banerjee, the Calcutta High Court ruled on Thursday, denying any interim relief in the case challenging the Speaker's decision to appoint Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. The court clarified that there would be no immediate changes to the current situation. Justice Krishna Rao, presiding over the case, instructed the involved parties to submit their affidavits. The respondents have been given three weeks to file their counter-affidavits, after which the petitioner will have two weeks to respond. During the proceedings, the court scheduled the next hearing for July 28. Until further orders, the Speaker's decision regarding the appointment will remain in effect.
Ritabrata Banerjee Claims Support from 64 MLAs
Ritabrata Banerjee Claims Support from 64 MLAs
Political rifts within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) appear to be deepening as rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee asserted that 64 MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly now support his faction. He mentioned that the names of these MLAs have been submitted to Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose and suggested that a floor test could be conducted to resolve conflicting claims of support within the party. Leading the splinter group known as 'New TMC', Banerjee made these remarks after attending the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected BJP MLA Devangshu Panda and TMC's Swati Khandekar. He also hinted that more legislators might join his camp in the coming days.
Future Prospects for the Rebel Faction
The former Rajya Sabha MP from TMC stated that the strength of his faction would become clearer by early next week. According to him, discussions are ongoing, and they expect to gain further support from additional MLAs.
Official Recognition Demanded by Banerjee
This development follows Banerjee's earlier request for official recognition of his faction in the Assembly. He had submitted a list claiming support from 58 MLAs, which he argued represented more than two-thirds of TMC's total strength in the house. Along with the list, Banerjee demanded to be acknowledged as the Leader of the Opposition. Subsequently, the Speaker accepted this request and officially declared him as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. Amidst various claims within the party, Banerjee stated that the most effective way to ascertain the actual support for opposing factions in the Assembly would be through a floor test.