Kolkata, June 18 -- The Calcutta High Court on Thursday refused to pass any interim order in the case challenging the Speaker's decision to make expelled Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal assembly.

Justice Krishna Rao directed the parties to file an affidavit in opposition in three weeks and reply in two weeks. Next hearing on July 28.

Speaker's decision will remain unchanged, as per the Calcutta High Court direction.

In the ongoing rebellion within the Trinamool Congress, a total of 58 MLAs of the Trinamool Congress have already formed a separate faction within the West Bengal assembly, where Ritabrata Banerjee has been recognised as Leader of Opposition by the speaker ...