The internal dispute within the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has extended to the party’s financial operations. After three of its bank accounts were frozen, the Trinamool Congress faction led by Mamata Banerjee has sought around ₹90 lakh to meet the party’s office expenses for June and July. Instead of withdrawing the money directly from the bank, the faction has requested the Special Officer appointed by the Calcutta High Court to release the funds.
The party has written to Special Officer and former judge Subrata Talukdar seeking the release of around ₹90 lakh. The funds have been requested for the party’s regular operations, administrative activities and other necessary expenses. The court has permitted limited use of the frozen accounts but has made supervision by the Special Officer mandatory.
The issue arose after three Trinamool Congress bank accounts were frozen, creating difficulties for the party in meeting its day-to-day expenses. According to reports, around ₹440 crore is said to be deposited in these accounts. The party has said that the freeze has affected employees’ salaries, administrative expenses and other regular payments. The Centre, however, has presented a different figure in the matter, claiming that around ₹164 crore remains available to the party.
The freezing of the accounts is linked to the ongoing dispute within the party. The two factions of the Trinamool Congress are engaged in a dispute over control of the party. Following a complaint by rebel MLA Bishwanath Das, the police debit-froze the party’s three bank accounts. The Mamata faction opposed the action, describing it as politically motivated.
When the matter reached the Calcutta High Court, the court established an arrangement for limited operation of the accounts instead of keeping them completely inaccessible. The court appointed retired judge Subrata Talukdar as Special Officer. Payments considered necessary can be made from the frozen accounts under his supervision. This interim arrangement is understood to remain in effect until September 30, 2026.
Under the court’s arrangement, any two of the Trinamool Congress’s authorised signatories must present a cheque to the Special Officer for payment. The money can be withdrawn from the bank only after the officer’s approval and countersignature. The party therefore does not have unrestricted control over the accounts, and every payment is subject to supervision by the Special Officer.
The High Court has also specified that money from the accounts may be used only for the party’s day-to-day operations and necessary expenses related to legal matters. The Special Officer has been directed not to permit other types of expenditure. Under this arrangement, the Mamata faction has now sought the release of around ₹90 lakh to meet expenses for June and July.
The issue of employees’ salaries is also part of the matter. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the party before the Supreme Court, had stated that salaries of 215 employees were outstanding. The party has argued that the freezing of the bank accounts has made it difficult to pay employees and maintain regular administrative operations. The Centre has made a different claim regarding the funds available to the party.
The Enforcement Directorate, or ED, also has a role in the dispute concerning the substantial funds held in the party’s bank accounts. According to the report, the central agency is examining around ₹440 crore in party funds. The freezing of the three accounts and their limited operation under court supervision have therefore become part of both the internal political dispute and the financial investigation.
The Special Officer will now have to decide on the Mamata faction’s request for ₹90 lakh. Since the court has assigned him responsibility for supervising expenditure, the intended use of the requested funds will also be relevant. Under the court’s arrangement, priority is to be given to regular party operations and necessary legal expenses.
The Calcutta High Court had also raised questions over the police action to freeze the accounts. The court was informed that an FIR was registered on June 18 and that the three bank accounts were debit-frozen the following day, June 19. At the initial stage, the court questioned what sufficient basis existed for freezing the accounts so quickly.
The court, however, did not determine through its interim order which faction has actual control of the Trinamool Congress. The dispute between the two sides over control of the party is also pending before the Election Commission. The High Court clarified that permission for limited operation of the accounts should not be treated as recognition of either faction as the party’s actual representative.
The court’s arrangement enables the Mamata faction to make limited use of funds in the frozen accounts for necessary party expenses. However, because every payment remains subject to supervision, the party cannot withdraw funds independently according to its own requirements. The request for ₹90 lakh has therefore been made under the judicially supervised arrangement.
The Trinamool Congress is currently facing a dispute over organisational control as well as legal restrictions on the use of its financial resources. Although the party has substantial funds in its bank accounts, it has said that the freezing of the accounts is affecting its regular expenses. The request for ₹90 lakh has been made in this context.
The Special Officer’s role will remain central to the matter. He will have to determine whether the requested expenditure falls within the scope of the court’s directions. If the expenses relate to regular party operations or necessary legal matters, payment may be permitted under the procedure established by the court. Expenses under other categories are not covered by the permitted arrangement.
At present, the Trinamool Congress’s three bank accounts remain frozen, a dispute continues over around ₹440 crore in party funds, and the Mamata faction has permission to use limited funds under court supervision. The request for around ₹90 lakh for June and July expenses has brought the financial aspect of the dispute back into focus.
The letter sent by the Mamata faction to the Special Officer indicates that the bank-account freeze is affecting the party’s regular operations. The Special Officer will now decide whether, and to what extent, the requested ₹90 lakh can be released. The party’s financial operations will continue under the monitoring arrangement established by the court.
