Kolkata: Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee has written to the Election Commission demanding the immediate conclusion of an inquiry into the party’s recognition status in Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura, arguing that granting further time to rebel faction neta and Uluberia MLA Ritabrata Banerjee would “undermine public faith.”In a parallel development, Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee hinted that the party may approach the Supreme Court over the status of 20 rebel MPs who broke away to join the little-known regional outfit NCPI and aligned with the NDA — attending an NDA meeting as a “Trinamool” faction rather than as NCPI, which is yet to receive official recognition. “A major event is set to unfold within the next week,” Kalyan said.In her letter to EC secretary Ashwini Kumar Mohal, Banerjee said the matter arose from communications dated July 2 in which the EC had sought responses on representations filed against the All India Trinamool Congress.While Trinamool submitted its counter-reply on July 6 — within the initial deadline — Ritabrata was granted two consecutive extensions, pushing his submission deadline to July 25. No reply was received even after the extended deadline, Mamata noted.“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 July 6 have been admitted and they do not have any answer to that,” she wrote.She also cautioned the EC against granting any further extension, alleging: “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.”
