Mamata Banerjee begins day-long dharna in Kolkata over alleged post-poll violence

Trinamool Congress TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday began a daylong dharna in central Kolkata to protest against the alleged postpoll attacks on party workers and leaders following the BJPrsquos victory in the recent Assembly elections reported PTIBanerjee reached the protest site at Esplanadersquos Ychannel after the Kolkata Police denied permission to hold the dharna at the adjacent Rani Rashmoni RoadBanerjee alleges restrictions on protest arrangementsAddressing supporters with a megaphone Banerjee claimed that the administration had not allowed the TMC to make proper arrangements for the protestldquoWe were not given permission to set up a stage or use microphonesrdquo Banerjee said while speaking at the dharna siteSloganeering and chaos mark protestThe protest witnessed chaotic scenes as TMC workers raised slogans during Banerjeersquos addressSenior party leaders including Firhad Hakim Madan Mitra Derek OrsquoBrien Kalyan Banerjee and Dola Sen were present alongside the former chief minister during the demonstrationHowever the absence of several newly elected MLAs who won on TMC tickets was noticeable at the protest venueProtest to continue till eveningBanerjee asserted that the dharna would continue till the evening as scheduledThe protest is being held against the alleged attack on her nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday incidents of alleged postpoll violence and the eviction of hawkers the party claimedIs Trinamool Congress heading for a lsquoShiv Senastylersquo split in West BengalPolitical circles in West Bengal are abuzz with speculation over whether the TMC is heading towards a Shiv Sena moment after reports of growing internal dissent surfaced following the partyrsquos defeat to the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP in the recent Assembly elections reported IANSThe murmurs of discontent within the TMC have drawn comparisons with the splits witnessed in Maharashtrarsquos Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party NCP between 2022 and 2023 where breakaway factions were later recognised as the original parties by constitutional authoritiesGrowing dissent within TMCIANS reports suggest that nearly 50 TMC MLAs are currently unhappy with the party leadership fuelling speculation of a possible rebellion within the organisationUnder the antidefection law at least twothirds of the partyrsquos legislators would need to split together to avoid disqualification For the TMC that number stands at around 53 MLAs out of its original strength of 80 in the AssemblyThe partyrsquos effective strength has already reduced to 78 after two MLAs were expelled for allegedly exposing forged signatures in a party resolution related to appointments of the Leader of Opposition deputy leaders and the chief whip in the AssemblyEchoes of Shiv Sena and NCP splitThe developments have drawn parallels with the Shiv Sena and NCP crises in Maharashtra where factions led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar eventually secured recognition as the ldquorealrdquo parties reported IANSUnder the Election Symbols Order 1968 the Election Commission decides which faction is entitled to claim the original party symbol and identity The decision is generally based on legislative majority as well as organisational control within the partyIn the Shiv Sena and NCP disputes both the Election Commission and the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker ruled in favour of the factions commanding majority support among legislatorsSecret meetings fuel speculationAmid the growing unrest reports of ldquosecret meetingsrdquo involving several TMC MLAs outside official party channels have further intensified rumours of a possible splitSources also claim that party meetings have witnessed poor attendance with some gatherings reportedly being cancelled due to lack of quorumHowever political observers point out that unless at least 53 legislators unite any rebellion could attract disqualification under the antidefection lawBJP distances itself from turncoatsThe BJP in West Bengal has reportedly ruled out immediately inducting defectors from the TMC making the possibility of a parallel political platform more likely than a direct merger with the saffron partyAnalysts note that Indiarsquos political history from the Congress split in 1969 to recent upheavals in Maharashtra has shown that legislative numbers combined with strong leadership can dramatically reshape party structuresMamata Banerjee faces crucial political testFor TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee the current developments mark one of the biggest internal challenges in recent yearsDespite the speculation surrounding dissent and factionalism political observers believe the 71yearold leader is unlikely to surrender control of the party without a fightWith PTI and IANS inputs