Just 19 MLAs Out of 80 Show Up: TMC Postpones Meeting Amid Signature Forgery Investigation

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday postponed a crucial legislative party meeting at party chief Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence in Kolkata after a large number of its MLAs failed to attend. The gathering was expected to discuss the ongoing Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into allegations that signatures of some legislators were forged on a letter nominating veteran leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly.

Only 19 of the party's 80 MLAs were present, well below the minimum requirement of 30 signatures needed for a valid LoP nomination letter.

Party Blames Absence on Statewide Protests

TMC leaders attributed the poor turnout to widespread protests launched after incidents involving the party's senior leaders. According to Kunal Ghosh, the party's state general secretary and MLA from Beliaghata, many legislators were occupied with demonstrations following the alleged heckling of national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

"Many of the MLAs called the leadership yesterday after the incident saying they would be holding agitations and hence the meeting should be postponed. Some called today as well. We held some discussions with those who managed to come. The next meeting will be announced soon," Ghosh said.

The party has now announced a series of demonstrations across West Bengal.

"We have decided that agitations in protest against Saturday's attack on Abhishek Banerjee and Sunday's attack on MP Kalyan Banerjee will be held at sub-divisions and community blocks across Bengal tomorrow. On June 2, Mamata Banerjee will hold a one-day agitation at Rani Rashmoni Road," Ghosh added.

Questions Raised Over Missing Legislators

The absence of a majority of TMC MLAs has sparked internal discussions within the party, especially as Abhishek Banerjee is scheduled to appear before the CID on Monday in connection with the alleged forgery case.

Some party leaders privately questioned why several legislators from Kolkata and nearby regions did not attend despite the importance of the meeting.

"The absence of so many MLAs raises questions. If Abdur Rahim Boxi, an MLA from Malda district, and Rukbanur Rahman from Nadia could come to Kalighat then it remains unexplained why Javed Ahmed Khan or Sandipan Saha, both from Kolkata, were conspicuous by their absence," an MLA told HT, requesting anonymity.

The legislator also revealed another issue that was expected to be discussed during the meeting.

"A second agenda of the meeting was to discuss the presence of so many TMC MLAs at recent administrative meetings called by the new BJP government," the MLA added.

The situation comes just weeks after the BJP secured a sweeping victory in the state assembly elections, winning 207 out of 294 seats and removing the TMC from power.

Arrests During Demonstrations, BJP Takes Swipe at TMC

While TMC leaders alleged that several party workers and legislators faced harassment and detention during protest actions over the weekend, police maintained that only a limited number of arrests had been made.

"Former Chinsurah MLA Asit Majumdar and nine of his associates were arrested on Sunday. They blocked a road and stopped police from performing their duty on Saturday evening," a district police officer said, requesting anonymity.

Reacting to the developments, BJP state chief spokesperson Debjit Sarkar criticised the TMC, claiming that support for the party leadership appeared limited.

"What surprises people is the low attendance of TMC MLAs and MPs on social media as well. Very few have condemned the heckling for which police arrested TMC workers," Sarkar said.

CID Investigating Alleged Forged Signatures

The controversy centres on a May 19 letter submitted to the Assembly nominating Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition. The CID has already questioned several TMC legislators after allegations surfaced that some signatures on the document may have been forged.

According to officials, a complaint was filed on behalf of the Assembly Secretariat at Kolkata's Hare Street police station on Wednesday before the case was transferred to the CID.

"The TMC submitted its first letter to the assembly regarding the LoP issue on May 6 but the assembly rejected it because it was not sent by the TMC legislative party, which is mandatory. When a second letter signed by TMC MLAs was submitted on May 19 it was found that some of the signatures did not match the assembly records," a police officer said, requesting anonymity.

Among the legislators questioned by investigators, Canning East MLA Baharul Islam publicly stated that he had not signed the letter.

"I could not attend the meeting as I was home. If I didn't sign the letter then who did? I have informed the leadership about this," Islam said on Friday.

TMC had announced on May 10 that 82-year-old Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, a ten-time MLA who won the Ballygunge seat in the April elections, would be nominated as Leader of the Opposition. The party also named Chowringhee MLA Nayna Bandopadhyay and Dhaniakhali MLA Asima Patra as deputy leaders of the opposition, while Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim was appointed chief whip in the Assembly.