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TMC’s Ritabrata Banerjee can continue as Bengal Assembly LoP while a single bench decides the challenge to his appointment within two months.
TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, whose appointment as Leader of Opposition in the Bengal Assembly is under challenge. (IMAGE: PTI FILE)
A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed that rebel TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee will continue as the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly for now, till a single bench decides on a petition challenging his appointment to the post within two months.
The division bench, comprising Justices Shampa Sarkar and Ajay Kumar Gupta, passed the interim order.
The bench directed the single bench to hear the challenge filed by Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, an MLA belonging to the TMC’s Mamata Banerjee camp, against Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose’s decision to appoint Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition.
The single bench had on June 18 refused to grant any interim relief against the Speaker’s decision to appoint Banerjee as the LoP.
Chattopadhyay subsequently appealed before the division bench against the single bench’s refusal. The veteran TMC leader had moved the high court challenging the rejection of his name and Banerjee’s appointment as the Leader of Opposition.
The single bench has now been directed to decide the challenge within two months.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18If the single bench rules against Ritabrata Banerjee, it would mean that the challenge to his appointment as Leader of the Opposition, filed by TMC MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, has been successful.
Ask News18About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has …Read More
August 18, 2026, 17:50 IST
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