Kolkata, June 18 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee, has supported former Trinamool Congress treasurer Aroop Biswas after he wrote to a private bank demanding the freezing of the party’s bank accounts.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Ritabrata Banerjee said: “Aroop Biswas’ letter has substance. What guarantee is there that there is no stolen money or embezzled money in this account? I support the request to freeze Trinamool’s account.”

According a political analyst, there is little doubt that Ritabrata Banerjee, the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, is attempting to establish his camp as the “real” Trinamool Congress after around 58 MLAs rebelled against the party leadership.

The reaction from the Leader of the Opposition came after former treasurer Aroop Biswas wrote to a private bank seeking an immediate restriction on operations in the party’s bank account.

In the letter, which came to light on Thursday, Biswas, a former Trinamool Congress minister, requested the bank authorities to stop withdrawals and maintain the status quo in the account until the ongoing dispute over the party’s leadership and control is resolved.

The development assumes significance as the TMC announced an organisational reshuffle on June 5 following its Assembly election defeat, naming former MP Subhasish Chakraborty as the new treasurer in place of Biswas.

However, in his communication to the bank, Biswas asserted that he continues to be the party’s treasurer.

The Trinamool Congress maintains an account at the Central Plaza branch of a private bank. According to the audit report submitted by the party to the Election Commission, the account holds deposits worth Rs 675 crore.

Although Biswas’ letter was dated June 12, it was received by the bank on June 16.

In the letter, Biswas pointed to the uncertainty arising from competing claims within the party.

He said rival groups were asserting themselves as the legitimate representatives of the Trinamool Congress, creating confusion over who was authorised to operate the party’s bank account.

He urged the bank to prevent withdrawals or other transactions by unauthorised individuals and also sought safeguards against the misuse of cheques that he had signed in advance.

–IANS

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