Kolkata, June 18 -- The Trinamool Congress (TMC), the principal Opposition party in West Bengal, appeared visibly divided in the Assembly on Thursday as rival factions occupied separate sections of the Opposition benches during the first session of the newly elected House.
The session, the first after the BJP formed the state government, highlighted the growing rift within the TMC.
A total of 38 MLAs were seen sitting with the camp led by Opposition Leader Ritabrata Bandyopadhyay, while 14 legislators occupied another section of the Opposition benches, identifying themselves with the Kalighat-backed faction loyal to party chief Mamata Banerjee.
Among those present in the Ritabrata camp was former state minister Firhad Hakim, popularly kn...