Kolkata, July 12 (IANS) The rebel faction of Trinamool Congress led by Ritabrata Banerjee on Sunday claimed that the committee constituted by it on June 22 is the only legitimate committee of the Trinamool Congress.

Addressing a press conference, Ritabrata Banerjee, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, made the claim citing directives issued by an Alipore court in connection with a case. He also asserted that no committee other than theirs can claim to represent the Trinamool Congress.

Ritabrata Banerjee said the Trinamool National Working Committee meeting was held on June 22, during which Howrah Madhya MLA Arup Roy was elected chairman of the Trinamool Congress.

According to him, the court has ruled that the committee headed by Arup Roy is the only legally valid committee of the Trinamool Congress. “General Trinamool workers filed a case in the Alipore court. The verdict in that case has said that the committee formed on June 22 is the only legally valid committee,” he said.

Ritabrata Banerjee further said: “If anyone other than the committee led by All India Trinamool Congress Chairman Arup Roy claims to be an office-bearer of the Trinamool Congress, it will not be valid. It is illegal for such people to run the party. They cannot issue any instructions relating to the party. No one else can use the party’s records, bank accounts, funds or property.”

There has also been speculation over the past few days about who will take possession of the Trinamool Congress party office in Kolkata’s Metropolitan area.

Ritabrata Banerjee visited the office recently.

Referring to the party office, he said: “No one other than the Trinamool Congress led by Arup Roy will be able to use the Trinamool building in Metropolitan.”

He added that it would be illegal for anyone outside the Arup Roy-led Trinamool Congress to enter the Metropolitan office or any other Trinamool party office.

Ritabrata Banerjee said he would visit the Trinamool building in Metropolitan on Monday or Tuesday.

Speculation has also intensified over former Trinamool MLA from Panihati Nirmal Ghosh joining the rebel camp after he attended its meeting on Saturday.

Responding to the speculation, Ritabrata Banerjee said: “We have no contact with Nirmal Ghosh.”

Ritabrata also said that the rebel faction is determined to observe Martyrs’ Day in Kolkata on July 21.

He said the leaders would inspect a site near the Gandhi statue on Mayo Road on Monday. Amid speculation over the turnout for the rebel camp’s July 21 programme, Ritabrata Banerjee said: “I will discuss the matter with the committee and prepare a route map for the mobilisation of supporters.”

–IANS

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