India, June 23 -- In a dramatic escalation of the battle for control of the TMC, the party's rebel faction, led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, on Monday convened a special session in Kolkata, and named senior MLA Arup Roy as the chairperson of what it described as the "real" Trinamool Congress.

The move marked the most direct organisational challenge yet to party supremo and founder chairperson Mamata Banerjee, whose authority over the organisation has come under increasing strain, following successive rebellions within the party's legislative and parliamentary wings after the TMC's defeat in the Assembly elections.

Held at a five-star hotel in New Town, the special session brought together rebel MLAs, councillors and f...