Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday urged the Election Commission to conclude at the earliest its inquiry into claims over the party by the rival camps, stating that the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction had failed to submit its response despite being granted two extensions. In a fresh letter to the poll panel, Banerjee said her faction had submitted its comments within the July 6 deadline fixed by the commission, while the rival camp was granted extensions till July 10 and subsequently July 25. "Since no reply has been received despite extension of time on two occasions, it can be inferred that all our submissions and statements pointed out in our letter dated 6th July 2026 have been admitted and they do not have any answer to that," she said. Banerjee alleged that the rival faction was "trying to create false evidence to develop their case" despite her camp having "firmly disputed" its allegations.
"We firmly believe because of the extension of time granted by you, Shri Ritabrata Banerjee and others are trying to create false evidence to develop their case since they do not have any merit in respect of their allegations which we have firmly disputed," she said. Seeking an early conclusion of the proceedings, Banerjee said there should be a "level playing field" for both sides and that it would be inappropriate to grant the rival faction any further extension after July 25. "Since the matter has serious political ramifications in West Bengal, I would request you to conclude the investigation as early as possible without providing them with any further date to submit their comments as sought for by the commission's letter dated 2nd July 2026," she said. "Justice must be rooted through confidence and if any further time after 25th July 2026 is given, that confidence is shaken," the letter added.
The dispute reached the EC on July 2 after the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction approached the poll panel claiming to be the "real" AITC and seeking recognition of organisational changes it said were carried out at a special session held on June 22. The EC subsequently wrote to both Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee on July 2, seeking their comments on the rival claims and asking them to submit their replies by 5.30 pm on July 6. While the Mamata Banerjee-led camp submitted its response within the stipulated deadline, the Ritabrata Banerjee faction sought more time and was first granted an extension till July 10 and later till July 25.
In its reply filed earlier this month, the Mamata Banerjee-led camp rejected the rival faction's claim and maintained that the party's organisational committees remain valid till 2027 under the AITC constitution. It said the last organisational elections were held in 2022 and argued that the rival camp's contention that the committees ceased to exist in 2025 was factually and legally untenable.