3 min readKolkataJun 19, 2026 05:38 AM IST
First published on: Jun 19, 2026 at 05:38 AM IST
A group of TMC legislators loyal to Mamata Banerjee on Thursday urged for a separate room and dedicated speaking time in the state Assembly after meeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, party leaders said.
Veteran party MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay and former TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, among the prominent faces of the Mamata camp in the legislature party, described their meeting with the chief minister as positive and said their concerns regarding seating arrangements, security and legislative functioning had been addressed.
Addressing a press conference, Ghosh said, “We, under leadership of Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Madan Mitra, along with a delegation, met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and asked for separate seating arrangement and time for placing our opinion in the Legislative Assembly as we are not the part of the rebel bloc and we have not accepted Ritabrata Banerjee as our party’s legislative leader. Chief Minister talked with us very patiently and showed utmost courtesy. He also talked with the Parliamentary Affairs Minister and asked him to make some arrangements or us.”
“We did not have to stand in a garage, nor did we have to crawl into the Speaker’s room. We did not have to stand for even a minute. We entered the Chief Minister’s room with our heads held high,” he added.
“We are not traitors. We won as TMC candidate in the election under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. We will continue as the TMC party. Those who voted for us or people who belong to our constituency, we have a responsibility to speak on behalf of them in the Assembly. The Chief Minister also agreed with our point and said the Assembly also belongs to the Opposition. We are hopeful about getting justice,” Ghosh said.
In a sharp attack on Ritabarata Banerjee, whose camp commands the support of a majority of TMC MLAs, Ghosh said the Mamata loyalists would not recognise his authority.
“Those who stab the party in the back through unethical means cannot be accepted as leaders by us,” he said.
Reiterating zero tolerance to atrocities against women, Ghosh also demanded the arrest of Ritabrata over his alleged involvement in the molestation of a woman in 2017.
“A woman had levelled rape and molestation charges against Banerjee earlier. That case is pending till date. The CPIM also expelled him over the allegations. The Governor on Thursday spoke about the government’s stand on zero tolerance to atrocities against women. Then, why hasn’t Banerjee been arrested yet? If the BJP is truly against atrocities against women then Banerjee should be arrested soon,” Ghosh said.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA and state Industry Minister Tapash Roy said, “What will TMC do, who is the original TMC, all of this is their internal matter. We can only say that we function democratically and we are ready to give time for debate to any party or group.”
Mamata Banerjee (File Photo) 
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