Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee‑led faction of the Trinamool Congress hit a procedural snag in its attempt to unfreeze the party’s seized bank balances. The Calcutta High Court turned down a request for an emergency hearing, meaning the application will be listed only after the court resumes work following the Puja holidays.
Why the party is pressing for the cash
The TMC approached the bench seeking permission to draw on the frozen accounts for routine organisational outlays – employee salaries, rent and other essential expenditures. The plea comes after a stalemate with a monitoring committee chaired by retired Justice Subrata Talukdar, which has so far refused to authorise any withdrawals.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya declined to grant an immediate hearing and ordered that the matter be placed on the regular calendar once the court reconvenes post‑festivities.
Bank accounts remain under freeze
The financial impasse began when three TMC accounts were sealed following allegations of irregular transactions. The case was taken to the Calcutta High Court, where the Mamata‑led faction sought access to the funds needed to keep the party’s day‑to‑day operations running.
Earlier, the Supreme Court declined to intervene directly, urging the High Court to expedite its consideration. The apex court did not address the substantive issues, leaving the dispute entirely in the hands of the lower court.
The state government has opposed the release of the money, questioning the source of the deposits. In earlier hearings, officials highlighted a large cash infusion that is under investigation, reinforcing the government's stance against unlocking the accounts.
Financial uncertainty looms for the TMC
The party argues that the continued freeze hampers its ability to meet routine expenses and threatens its preparedness for upcoming electoral activities in West Bengal.
At the same time, a separate intra‑party dispute over the TMC’s name and election symbol is unfolding, with the Election Commission temporarily barring the use of the original party name and emblem while it deliberates.
With the High Court refusing an expedited hearing, the Mamata‑led faction must now wait until after the Puja holidays for its application to be heard. The eventual verdict will decide whether the contested funds can be accessed, even as broader legal and organisational challenges persist.
