TMC questions timing of Election Commission hearing amid BRICS Summit

'The timing of the meeting looks totally devious. But the EC is a high constitutional body, so we will attend the meeting', Saket Gokhale said

PTI, September 11, 2026, Kolkata : The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress on Friday questioned the timing of the Election Commission's hearing on the party's organisational dispute amid the BRICS Summit on September 12, calling the move "totally devious".

Party's national spokesperson Saket Gokhale also asserted that "Mamata Banerjee, the founder chairperson of the Trinamool, is the Trinamool".

Speaking to PTI, Gokhale said, "The meeting is happening on a Saturday, for the first time ever not even in the main office, while the BRICS summit is on. Is this purely a coincidence? 

The timing of the meeting looks totally devious. But the Election Commission (EC) is a high constitutional body, so we will attend the meeting."

He said the issue should not be viewed simply in terms of competing claims by two legislative groups.

"The EC has called the traitors as well. These are those imposters who have not replied to a single notice they received from the EC, except to plead for multiple extensions of the EC deadlines. Zero substance. Not one sentence about their views. All they've written is to ask for new dates," he said.

"The Tenth Schedule is cut and dry. There is a big difference between a parliamentary/legislative party and the mother political party," he said.

"We think it's an absolutely straightforward case. Mamata Banerjee, the founder chairperson of the Trinamool, is the Trinamool," Gokhale said.

"In its wisdom, the Constitution has put four referees in charge -- the West Bengal Assembly speaker, the Lok Sabha speaker, the EC and the SC. We trust the Constitution," he added.

The EC has called representatives of both sides for separate meetings in New Delhi on September 12 over their competing claims to the Trinamool Congress's organisational control, name, assets and election symbol.

The Ritabrata Banerjee-led group has been given an appointment at 11 am, while the Mamata Banerjee side will meet the poll panel an hour later at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in Dwarka.

The hearing comes ahead of the October 6 assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, with the nomination process underway and the deadline for filing papers set for September 16. 

Both sides have announced candidates for the bypolls.

The dispute over control of the party came before the EC after the Ritabrata Banerjee-led group approached the poll panel and staked claim to the Trinamool's organisational control, name, financial assets and the electoral symbol.

The Mamata Banerjee side contested that claim and maintained that the party's organisational committees remain valid under its constitution.

The EC on July 2 sought responses from both sides by July 6. The Mamata Banerjee side submitted its reply within the deadline, while the Ritabrata group sought more time. The commission first extended its deadline to July 10 and subsequently allowed another extension till July 25.

On July 12, Mamata Banerjee wrote to the EC saying no communication from the Ritabrata group had been shared with the All India Trinamool Congress and requested that no further time be granted. On July 29, she again wrote to the commission seeking conclusion of the enquiry.

The organisational dispute also saw rival claims over the validity of a "special session" held by the Ritabrata group. On August 25, Trinamool MLA Pirzada Siddique wrote to the EC alleging serious irregularities and infirmities in the proceedings. Mamata on August 30 placed Siddique's letter before the commission and sought an expeditious conclusion of the matter.

The meeting assumes significance with the bypolls approaching, as both sides have said they will field candidates. The Ritabrata group has said it intends to contest using the Trinamool's name and symbol, while remaining prepared to fight as independents if the dispute is not settled before the nomination process ends.