West Bengal: Blow for Mamata Banerjee as Speaker Recognizes rebel TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as LoP

Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee has suffered a major setback in West Bengal. West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Bose has officially recognized Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition. Mamata Banerjee had previously declared Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition. This move subsequently triggered a rebellion within the party; 60 out of the 80 legislators refused to accept Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition. Following this, a group of 60 legislators, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, met with Speaker Rabindra Nath Bose, asserting that they constituted the authentic faction of the TMC and requesting that Ritabrata Banerjee be officially recognized as the Leader of the Opposition. After considering the legislators' appeal, the Speaker granted official recognition to Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition.

The Speaker has handed over the keys to the Leader of the Opposition's chamber to Ritabrata Banerjee. Four Deputy Leaders of the Opposition have been appointed within this TMC faction. They are Javed Ahmed Khan, Sabina Yasmin, Shilu Saha, and Sandipan Saha. Akhruzzaman will serve as the TMC's Chief Whip in the House.

The Speaker's decision makes it clear that he has recognized the TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee as the legitimate Trinamool Congress.