Now Reading: Calcutta HC allows rebel TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee to remain LoP
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Calcutta HC allows rebel TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee to remain LoP
The Calcutta High Court division bench on Tuesday declined to grant interim relief to the Trinamool Congress in its challenge to rebel MLA Ritabrata Banerjee's appointment as Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. The bench of Justices Shampa Sarkar and Ajay Kumar Gupta ordered that Banerjee will continue in the post until a single judge decides the matter afresh within two months.
The case was filed by TMC MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, a Mamata Banerjee loyalist whose name had been proposed by the party for the LoP post. Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose rejected Chattopadhyay's nomination and appointed Banerjee instead. A single bench had earlier declined to stay the Speaker's decision on June 18.
Rebel MLAs backing Banerjee have alleged their signatures were forged on a May 6 letter proposing Chattopadhyay's name, a case being investigated by Bengal police CID. Banerjee claimed 65 of 80 TMC MLAs are with him. The single bench must now decide the challenge within two months.
Indian Opinion Analysis
India Today and Times of India both lead with the division bench's refusal of interim relief, framing it as a court order that lets Ritabrata Banerjee stay. Times of India adds the 'signgate' angle and rebel MLAs' claims of forged signatures, giving voice to the challengers' version. India TV is more transactional, simply stating the outcome without any political framing. The key omission across all sources is any detail on the merits of the signature forgery allegations. A careful reader should note that the core legal question, whether the Speaker's appointment of a rebel over a loyalist was valid, remains unresolved. Watch for the single bench's decision within two months, which could reshape Bengal's assembly dynamics.
Coverage: 3 sources, 1 government-critical, 2 neutral
Sources (3): indiatoday.in (government critical), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), indiatvnews.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
