Amid the continuing internal tussle over authority within the All India Trinamool Congress, party chairperson and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has written to the Election Commission of India, strongly objecting to any further extension of time for the Ritabrata Banerjee camp to respond.
In the two page letter communication on All India Trinamool Congress letterhead, dated July 29 and addressed to ECI Secretary Ashwini Kumar Mahal - Banerjee referred to earlier extensions already granted. She noted that by Memo No. 56/15/2026/PPS-II dated 7th July 2026 the Commission had extended time till 10th July 2026, but no reply was submitted. Ritabrata Banerjee then sought 15 more days till 25th July 2026, which the Commission allowed on 13th July 2026.
“Even after 25th July 2026, we have not been informed whether Shri Ritabrata Banerjee has submitted his reply or not, and if he has replied, no such copy has been provided to us. Therefore, it can be inferred that no reply has been submitted,” the letter states. It adds that since no response came despite two extensions, “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.”
Banerjee argued there is now “no scope as per your previous letters for them to give any reply in respect to our letter dated 6th July 2026.” She maintained they “cannot make out a new case other than the letters addressed by them on 22nd June 2026 as mentioned in your letter dated 2nd July 2026.”
She further alleged that the extensions were being used to create false evidence: “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.”
Calling for a level playing field, Banerjee said the party’s own grievances (already submitted on 6th July 2026) must also be addressed. “We humbly submit it would be inappropriate to give them any further extension after 25th July 2026.”
Highlighting the political sensitivity, she wrote: “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.”
The letter closes with the assertion that “Justice must be rooted through confidence and if any further time after 25th July 2026 is given, that confidence is shaken.”
The communication is signed by Mamata Banerjee as Chairperson, All India Trinamool Congress, and carries the party’s official stamp. The development comes against the backdrop of the ongoing dispute over party authority that has been before the Election Commission. Since the Bengal election debacle, chicks were showing up within TMC. Later Ritabrata Banerjee have formed a faction naming MLA Arup Roy as the party chairperson - effectively removing Mamata Banerjee for that same post she has been holding since she founded the party in 1998. Of the 80 MLAs TMC won in the 2026 state election, over 60 have switched allegiance - what Mamata Banerjee has termed as BJP’s ploy to end TMC. Both sides have made their case representation before the ECI, considered to be the final authority to resolve the authority dispute - like what happened with Shiv Sena and NCP.
