'Criminal trespassers': TMC vows court battle as rival faction captures party HQ

NEW DELHI: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday accused the rival faction led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee of illegally taking control of the party's organisational headquarters in Kolkata, calling its members 'criminal trespassers' and warning of legal action.The party also said it had lodged a police complaint against the rebel faction for allegedly trespassing into the office and putting locks on the premises.Speaking to reporters, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said, "They are criminal trespassers. They started the game and we will finish it. We will go to court."TMC leader Kunal Ghosh also criticised the police response, alleging that expelled party members had no right to enter the office."We have lodged a formal police complaint against those who trespassed into Trinamool Bhavan today and put a lock on it. There was absolutely no need to put a lock on the premises. Expelled members have no right to enter the party office," Ghosh said.He claimed that despite requests, the police allowed the rebel faction to lock the premises and later protected it."We could have easily broken the lock they installed, but we refrained from any illegal or irresponsible actions. The local police, RAF and central forces simply stood there. This is a major conspiracy to damage the Trinamool Congress. The people of Bengal and Trinamool workers are watching everything," he added.Reacting to it, TMC leader Madan Mitra accused the Central forces of protecting the rebel camp and alleged that the faction was acting on behalf of the BJP."Central Forces arrived within 15 minutes to protect a specific Trinamool Congress group. This proves that these people are acting as the BJP's 'B-team,' operating from the BJP's lap. We have not violated any laws. At least 1 lakh of our party offices in Bengal are currently shut down, and our party members cannot even sit there; they are facing oppression, hooliganism, and police attacks. No one from the BJP went to protect them," Mitra said.He also alleged that the police stopped TMC leaders from entering the premises despite having access to an adjoining room."They (Police) stated that they would summon the owner and examine the agreement held by the owner. We possess the key to the adjacent room, yet we were not allowed to enter," he added.The remarks came after the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction took control of the party's organisational headquarters in Kolkata, a day after approaching the Election Commission to stake its claim over the Trinamool Congress name and election symbol.Ritabrata Banerjee, accompanied by senior leaders including Firhad Hakim, Javed Khan, Sandipan Saha and Akhruzzaman, held a meeting at the office and claimed that his faction represented the 'real' Trinamool Congress.Leaders aligned with the faction said they had completed the required formalities with the owners of the premises and that the office would now function as their organisational headquarters.The Metropolitan office has served as the Trinamool Congress' operational headquarters since 2022, after the party shifted there while its original office was undergoing reconstruction.The dispute between the two factions intensified after the party's defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, with both camps claiming to be the legitimate Trinamool Congress.On Thursday, a delegation led by Ritabrata Banerjee met the full bench of the Election Commission in New Delhi to press its claim over the party's organisational leadership.The Election Commission has asked both factions to submit their respective claims and supporting documents on the party's organisational structure, authorised signatories and control of the party by 5.30 pm on July 6.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.