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West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul on Thursday expressed her "disappointment" over the lack of a formidable opposition in the state assembly, stating that the internal rifts within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have left the treasury benches without a strong challenger.
Speaking to reporters about the ongoing factionalism within the TMC, Paul drew a sharp contrast between the current scenario and the time when the BJP served as the opposition under the leadership of Suvendu Adhikari. "We are bothered about a good Opposition because we, under the leadership of Suvendu Adhikari -- when he was the LoP -- were a very strong Opposition. We were tortured, we were thrown out, we were expelled, suspended, but it was great. Those five years we fought," Paul said. The minister emphasised that a healthy democracy requires a robust opposition, which she claimed is currently missing in the West Bengal Assembly. "So, we also want a strong Opposition where there will be a chance to fight. But right now, there is an Opposition where we really can't figure out where the opposition is. In that Opposition gallery, some people stay back and some people move out when the CM gives his Budget speech," she added. "We are confused, we are sad that there is no Opposition when the BJP is in power," the Minister remarked. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially intervened in the ongoing leadership tussle within the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), seeking responses from both Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee regarding conflicting claims over the party's organisational structure and authorised signatories. The poll body has directed both factions to submit their responses by 5:30 PM on Monday, July 06. The move comes amid a deepening rift within the party, with the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee claiming legitimacy over the party's symbols and administration. The political crisis within the party deepened after 58 of the TMC's 80 MLAs broke away from the Mamata Banerjee-led leadership following the Assembly poll defeat. The rebel legislators subsequently backed Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and announced a new 30-member National Working Committee. (ANI)
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