The number of Trinamool Congress MLAs supporting Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly has increased to 65. Mr. Banerjee, who participated in a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting called by Speaker Rathindra Bose on Tuesday, once again emphasised that he was the leader of the Trinamool Congress Legislature Party and dared his rivals to undergo a floor test in the House.

“I am saying this because people outside are making so many statements, and the media is also showing immense interest in these remarks. So, my message to everyone is that if the Speaker feels a floor test needs to happen, let there be a floor test. Once the floor test takes place, all this endless rhetoric and cross-talk will come to an end,” the Uluberia Purba MLA said. Mr. Ritabrata said the number of MLAs supporting him continued to rise and had reached 65.

On June 3, two days after being expelled from the Trinamool Congress, Mr. Ritabrata was announced as the Leader of the Opposition, with 58 of the 80 MLAs supporting him.

On Tuesday, the Speaker did not invite the MLAs believed to be loyal to Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee for the BAC meeting, which took place ahead of the Budget Session of the Assembly. Representatives of the CPI(M), Congress, ISF, and the AJUP were present at the meeting. Trinamool MLAs such as Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay and Kunal Ghosh, who continue to side with the party chairperson, raised questions about the lack of invitation.

HC seeks answers

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday questioned the State government whether the Speaker can suo motu recognise the Leader of the Opposition when two proposals are on the table. 

During the hearing of a petition filed by Mr. Sobhandeb against the recognition of Mr. Ritabrata as the Leader of the Opposition, Justice Krishna Rao asked, “If the Speaker is having two proposals of the same party what is his duty? How can he recognise one suo motu?”

The first proposal to elect the Leader of the Opposition came from Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, nominating Mr. Sobhandeb for the post, with 70 MLAs supporting him. It There were allegations that some signatures had been forged, and the CID is probing the matter.

“We can also see that one proposal was also there by 70 MLAs, then came one with 58 MLAs. How can the Speaker sitting in his chamber decide which is right or wrong? Why is the House there? How can you say that you will accept the 58 by ignoring the first proposal?” Justice Rao asked.

Additional Advocate-General Bilwadal Bhattacharya responded that the 58 MLAs had gone to the Assembly and claimed that they were in the majority and had chosen the Leader of the Opposition and the party whip. The matter will be heard again on Wednesday.