Mamata Banerjee Urges Election Commission Not to Grant Additional Time to Rival Faction

Mamata Banerjee alleged that the additional time was being used by Ritabrata Banerjee and his associates to allegedly fabricate new and false evidence to show their side was stronger. She said that her faction had already strongly denied the allegations of the rival side and there was no merit in those allegations. So it would not be appropriate to give them more time now. Mamata Banerjee told the Election Commission that there should be a level playing field for both sides. She urged that no more time should be given to the rival faction after July 25. According to her, the matter is related to West Bengal politics and it needs to be decided soon. She said in the letter that justice will be effective only if the people have faith in it. That faith would be affected if the time was repeatedly extended. The dispute reached the Election Commission on July 2, when the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction claimed to be the "real" organisation of the Trinamool Congress and demanded recognition from the Commission. Mamata Banerjee claimed that the two factions had sent a special letter to the Election Commission at 5.30 pm on June 22, seeking a reply by July 2.