Background of the Split

TMC Factional Row: EC’s July 6 Reply Reaffirms Mamata‑Led Committee Until 2027

The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) lodged a detailed 14‑page reply with the Election Commission of India on 6 July 2026, rejecting the claim of a rival faction headed by the West Bengal Leader of Opposition, Ritabrata Banerjee. The filing insists that the party’s organisational committees, elected in 2022, remain valid for a five‑year term ending in 2027, as per the party constitution. The move sets the stage for a constitutional test of intra‑party democracy and the EC’s supervisory role.

The dispute erupted after Ritabrata Banerjee’s faction approached the EC, asserting that the tenure of the AITC National Working Committee (NWC) expired in 2025. The faction demanded recognition as the “real” AITC and sought control over party symbols and finances.

• ▸On 6 July 2026, the Mamata‑led faction submitted a response to the EC.
• ▸Ritabrata Banerjee is currently the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
• ▸The rebel group’s representation was filed under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1951.

The claim hinged on an interpretation of the party’s internal election calendar, which the rebel faction argued had not been formally extended beyond the three‑year term originally stipulated in the 1998 constitution.

Legal Framework Governing Party Organisation

The AITC constitution, first adopted in 1998, set a three‑year tenure for its central committees. Subsequent amendments altered this schedule:

• ▸The 2000 amendment extended the tenure from three to four years.
• ▸The 2006 amendment further lengthened it to five years, a change communicated to the EC at the time.
• ▸The last organisational election was held in 2022, fixing the current term to run until 2027.

Statutory authority for the EC to adjudicate such disputes derives from the Representation of the People Act 1951 and the constitutional mandate in Article 324 of the Indian Constitution, which vests the “superintendence, direction and control of elections” in the Commission. This provision empowers the EC to intervene when a party’s internal mechanisms affect the conduct of elections or the integrity of party symbols.

EC’s Recent Response

The EC’s acknowledgment of the 14‑page reply marks the first procedural step in a formal adjudication. The Commission’s office noted that the submission:

• ▸Enumerated the party’s constitution, its amendment history, and the 2022 election outcome.
• ▸Contained a chronological trace of the AITC’s formation from 1998 to the present.
• ▸Was filed under the “representation” clause of the Representation of the People Act 1951.

Under its statutory powers, the EC may now:

• ▸Issue a notice to the rival faction seeking clarification on its claims.
• ▸Convene a hearing where both sides can present documentary evidence.
• ▸Issue an interim order preserving the status‑quo on party symbols pending final determination.

The Commission’s interim stance, as of the filing date, is to treat the Mamata‑led committee as the de‑facto authority, thereby allowing the party to contest upcoming elections without disruption.

Implications for Party Democracy and Federal Oversight

The episode underscores the tension between a party’s internal democratic processes and the constitutional oversight entrusted to the EC. By affirming the five‑year tenure, the EC reinforces the principle that a party’s constitution, once duly amended and communicated, carries legal weight.

• ▸The AITC’s internal election schedule aligns with the constitutional expectation that parties maintain regular, transparent leadership renewal.
• ▸Recognising the 2022‑elected committee averts a potential vacuum that could have triggered a by‑election for the party’s West Bengal seats.

Beyond West Bengal, the ruling sets a precedent for other regional parties grappling with factionalism. A clear EC stance may deter future splinter groups from invoking procedural loopholes, thereby contributing to political stability at the state level.

In sum, the EC’s July 6 response not only settles a contested claim within the AITC but also reaffirms the Commission’s role as the guardian of electoral integrity, even when the dispute originates inside a single party’s constitution.