TMC Accuses Election Commission of Favoritism in Rebel Dispute

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien has launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission, alleging the body is acting as a proxy for the BJP. O'Brien claims the commission has granted the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee 23 days of extensions while ignoring the party's own timely submissions.

Editorial·July 16, 2026·reads: 758

TMC Accuses Election Commission of Favoritism in Rebel Dispute

The dispute centers on conflicting claims regarding the TMC's organizational legitimacy. While the party leadership under Mamata Banerjee met the commission's three-day deadline, O'Brien argues the regulators have repeatedly bent rules for the breakaway group. He labeled the rebels the 'new Traitor Party' and condemned the commission for what he perceives as deliberate administrative bias.

Internal instability continues to mount as high-profile figures like Madan Mitra defect, citing grievances over the influence of General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. With Ritabrata Banerjee planning a separate rally to coincide with the party’s significant 'Shaheed Diwas' event, the political friction threatens to further fracture the organization's public standing.