AITC Moves Calcutta High Court Against Recognition of Ritabrata Banerjee as West Bengal Assembly LoP

June 8, 2026 : The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on Monday approached the Calcutta High Court challenging West Bengal Legislative Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose’s decision to recognise Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly.

The matter was mentioned before Justice Krishna Rao by Senior Advocate Sirsanya Bandopadhyay, who sought judicial review of the Speaker’s decision and recognition of AITC nominee Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the LoP. The Court directed that the case be listed for hearing on June 11.

In its petition, the AITC questioned the legality and procedural validity of the Speaker’s decision, arguing that Banerjee’s recognition was contrary to established parliamentary conventions, legislative practices, and procedural norms governing the functioning of the Assembly.

The dispute stems from an unprecedented split within the AITC legislature party. A group of rebel MLAs last week elected Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition and subsequently secured formal recognition from the Speaker. Reports suggest that 58 MLAs backed Banerjee’s candidature, prompting Speaker Rathindra Bose to grant him official recognition as LoP.

The decision triggered strong opposition from the party leadership, which contends that the move is inconsistent with parliamentary procedures and rules governing legislative party leadership in the House.

Defending his decision, the Speaker reportedly stated that the Banerjee-led faction had the required numerical strength for recognition. He is also said to have taken the view that the expulsion proceedings initiated by the party against certain legislators did not comply with the party’s own constitution and internal rules.

The controversy has been further complicated by allegations of forged signatures on a resolution purportedly supporting the appointment of Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as LoP. Those allegations are currently under separate criminal investigation.