India, July 3 -- The power struggle within the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) escalated sharply on Friday after the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee took control of the party's headquarters in Kolkata, declaring it the official office of the organisation.

Accompanied by several MLAs, including Firhad Hakim, Sandipan Saha, Javed Khan and party treasurer Akruzzaman, the dissident leaders entered the Metropolitan office, changed the locks on the gates, installed new posters and held a meeting inside the premises.

The faction announced that all party activities would now be conducted from the building.

'This is our headquarters'

Addressing the media, Ritabrata Banerjee asserted that his group represents the "real" Trinamool Con...