Mamata's troubles mount as expelled TMC MLA claims majority support for LoP post

In signs of a major revolt in the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, expelled MLA of the party Ritabrata Banerjee today claimed the majority support of the legislature party to stake claim to the post of leader of opposition in Bengal.

Banerjee, who was expelled two days ago after he alleged that his signatures on a letter backing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as LOP were forged, today said he has the backing of 59 TMC MLAs for the post of Leader of Opposition.

Banerjee arrived at the Bengal Assembly and showed letters of support.

He was accompanied by MLAs Arun Roy and Shiuli Saha among others and said he along with other TMC lawmakers will meet today and elect the LOP.

The issue of election of LOP in Bengal is threatening the unity of TMC after Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee proposed Chattopadhyay for the post and two MLAs — Ritabrata and Sandipan Saha — alleged that their signatures on the letter backing Chattopadhyay were forged.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has already ordered a CID probe into the matter.,Meanwhile, Mamata's party is appearing under tremendous strain with dissonance rising.

At least 53 of TMC's 80 MLAs need to break away to claim they are a separate party. The anti-defection law says two-thirds of the legislature party must split to claim itself as an independent entity.