Kolkata, May 18 -- A fresh controversy erupted in the West Bengal Assembly on Monday after senior MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, despite being elected leader of the Trinamool Congress legislative party, was denied access to the chamber traditionally allotted to the Leader of the Opposition.
The room remained locked throughout the day, triggering a political and legal row over procedural validity and legislative rules. At the centre of the dispute is a letter submitted to the Assembly Secretariat by the ruling Trinamool Congress, informing the House authorities about Chattopadhyay's election as the legislative party leader.
The letter, however, was signed by Trinamool National General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee. Assembly off...