West Bengal’s former ruling party, the Trinamool Congress, is in turmoil and on the verge of a split. Expelled TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee claims the support of nearly 60 MLAs, a number that could decisively shift control of the Assembly. His faction has already written to Speaker Rathindra Bose, asking to be recognised as the “real TMC.”
In a counter move, TMC announced Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the House, with Ashima Patra and Nayana Bandopadhyay as deputies, and Firhad Hakim as chief whip. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a rally in Kolkata, accused the BJP of orchestrating the split.
