KOLKATA, June 3 -- In a massive setback to Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Assembly speaker Rathindra Nath Bose on Wednesday recognised 58 rebel (TMC) legislators as the principal opposition party in the 294-member House.

Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, the two lawmakers expelled by the TMC on Monday, have been recognised as the leader and deputy leader of the Opposition respectively. Bose said his secretariat had issued the official letter in this connection.

The unprecedented development in Bengal politics came 29 days after the Bharatiya Janata Party wrested 207 seats against the TMC's 80.

The speaker met the rebels behind closed doors at the assembly and accepted their letter around 2:30 pm. The le...