Mamata Banerjee Writes to ECI, Seeks Immediate Closure of TMC Inquiry Over Repeated Deadline Extensions
TMC leader and former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee addressed a public meeting in Kolkata. (Image TMC on X)
By KUMAR VIKRAM
In a letter to the Election Commission, the Trinamool Congress chief says repeated extensions granted to complainant Ritabrata Banerjee have delayed the inquiry and seeks an early conclusion amid political implications in West Bengal.
New Delhi, July 29, 2026 — West Bengal Chief Minister and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) Chairperson Mamata Banerjee has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI), urging it to conclude an inquiry concerning the party without granting any further extensions to the complainant.
In a two-page letter dated July 29, 2026, addressed to Election Commission Secretary Ashwani Kumar Mohal, Banerjee referred to earlier correspondence between the Commission, the Trinamool Congress and former party leader Ritabrata Banerjee, who had submitted representations to the poll body regarding the party.
According to the letter, the Trinamool Congress submitted its response to the Commission on July 6, within the deadline stipulated by the ECI after receiving its communication dated July 2.
The TMC chief, however, alleged that while the party complied with the timeline, the complainant was granted repeated extensions. She noted that the Commission first extended the deadline for Ritabrata Banerjee to July 10, and subsequently to July 25, after he sought additional time.
Banerjee argued that despite the extensions, the Trinamool Congress had not been informed whether the complainant had submitted his response. She contended that if no reply had been received despite the additional time, it could reasonably be inferred that no further submissions had been made.
The letter further states that the allegations raised by the complainant had already been addressed in the party’s response submitted on July 6, and asserted that there was no justification for granting any further opportunity beyond July 25.
“There should be a level playing field,” Banerjee wrote, arguing that allowing additional time after multiple extensions would be inappropriate and could undermine confidence in the inquiry process.
Highlighting the political sensitivity of the matter in West Bengal, Banerjee requested the Election Commission to conclude the investigation “as early as possible” without granting any further extensions for submissions.
She concluded the letter by stating that “justice must be rooted through confidence” and cautioned that any further extension beyond July 25 could weaken public confidence in the process.
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