TMC alleges Bengal LoP not allotted room in assembly, raises democratic concerns

The TMC on Friday alleged that the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly has not been allotted a room in the House, raising questions over the functioning of the democratic institution.

The issue triggered a stalemate in the assembly, with TMC MLAs staging a sit-in on the premises in front of the room proposed for the leader of the opposition (LoP).

The protest was joined by the TMC legislative party's elected LoP and Ballygunge MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, former Speaker Biman Banerjee, former ministers Pulak Roy and Aroop Roy, along with several other legislators.

In a series of posts on X, the party alleged that the BJP government was trying to suppress the voice of the opposition and violating democratic norms and institutional traditions.

''The assembly is meant to uphold democracy, yet the leader of the opposition still awaits an allotted room. Our MLAs staged a dharna today within the assembly complex, raising serious concerns over democratic norms and institutional procedures,'' the party said in one of the posts.

The TMC also claimed that despite submitting all required documents, the designated room for the LoP had still not been allotted.

''The assembly is the temple of democracy. Yet, even today, the leader of the opposition has not been allotted a room. Trinamool Congress MLAs continue to sit in the assembly lobby as questions grow over the functioning of democratic institutions,'' the party said.

The TMC alleged that it had informed the assembly secretariat and the Speaker through a formal letter regarding its legislative party decision to appoint Chattopadhyay as the LoP.

However, assembly secretariat sources indicated that the initial letter or resolution did not clearly specify how many TMC MLAs had signed or endorsed it, raising questions over its administrative validity.

Following the objection, the TMC legislative party submitted a fresh resolution to the assembly authorities, which, according to party sources, carried signatures of 70 MLAs.

Former Speaker Biman Banerjee criticised the secretariat's stand and alleged that such demands were never made by the previous TMC government when the BJP was in the opposition, and alleged that it is suppression of democracy.

Banerjee also claimed that Chattopadhyay had earlier been invited as the LoP during the Speaker's election process, which amounted to recognition of his position.

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said the sit-in protest was not a pre-announced programme, and MLAs gathered spontaneously after finding the room locked despite submission of the additional documents sought by the secretariat.

Chattopadhyay warned that the party MLAs would continue their protest over the alleged delay in allotment of the LoP room.

''No room has been allotted to me till now. Though there has been no formal communication to us about the status, we heard that no decision has been taken as the Speaker is out of station. Can this be a reason?'' he told PTI.

''Today you may think we are only 80 in number. But if these 80 members raise their voice together inside and outside the assembly, a lot can happen,'' Banerjee said.

TMC members also raised slogans against the BJP government during the protest.

The TMC suffered a bruising electoral defeat in the recent assembly elections, with its tally reduced to 80 in the 294-member House. The BJP won 207 seats.

There was no immediate response from the BJP or the assembly secretariat on the TMC's allegations.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)