West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh on Saturday described the escalating power struggle within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) as an "internal matter" after the party's state headquarters was taken over by a rebel faction. He said the legal process and the Speaker would ultimately determine who has the right to occupy the party office and Assembly seats.
Addressing reporters, Ghosh said the dispute should be resolved through constitutional and legal mechanisms, while cautioning against political confrontations.
"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 the government and ensure good governance," he said.
Ghosh also launched a sharp attack on TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, accusing him of making inflammatory remarks during the Assembly election campaign that allegedly fuelled post-poll violence across the state.
His comments came after the Calcutta High Court declined to grant Banerjee immediate relief in his plea challenging a proposal to collect his voice sample in connection with the case related to his alleged "DJ" remarks.
"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 alleged.
The Minister's remarks come amid an intensifying battle for control of the TMC following Friday's dramatic takeover of the party's Metropolitan headquarters on EM Bypass by the faction led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee.
The development prompted heavy deployment of CRPF personnel and Kolkata Police outside the premises after the dissident camp claimed control of the office. The takeover came a day after the rebel faction approached the Election Commission in New Delhi, staking claim to the party's name, election symbol, and organisational assets.
Accompanied by senior leaders including Firhad Hakim, Javed Khan, and Akhruzzaman, Ritabrata Banerjee entered the headquarters and announced a new leadership structure. The rebels removed existing signage and installed a new board naming senior MLA Arup Roy as the party chairman, replacing Mamata Banerjee.
The dissident faction claimed the office lease had expired and that a fresh lease agreement had been executed under the authority of its newly constituted working committee.
"This is our party office, and it will remain our party office. The key to the main gate will be with us," MLA Akhruzzaman said, while maintaining that the faction continued to respect photographs of Mamata Banerjee displayed inside the office but rejected the leadership of Abhishek Banerjee.
The takeover triggered an immediate backlash from the Mamata Banerjee camp, with senior leaders rushing to the spot and filing police complaints.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Police said they would examine the ownership and lease documents before allowing normal political activities to resume at the premises.
The political battle is also set to play out before the Election Commission, which has directed both the Mamata Banerjee-led faction and the Ritabrata Banerjee camp to submit their respective organisational claims and counterclaims by 5:30 pm on July 6. The Commission is expected to examine the competing claims over the party's leadership, organisational control, and election symbol before taking a decision.
