Election Commission Bars Rival Factions From Using Trinamool Congress Name and Symbol in West Bengal Bypolls
Photo: Collected
The Election Commission of India has ruled that neither of the warring factions of West Bengal's Trinamool Congress will be allowed to use the party's traditional twin-flower symbol or the name All India Trinamool Congress in the upcoming assembly by-elections.
Announced late Thursday night, the directive requires both factions to contest the upcoming polls using alternative symbols. The decision followed a full-bench hearing in New Delhi, where 10 representatives—five from each side—presented their arguments regarding party ownership and election symbols. The commission stated that the twin-flower symbol will remain suspended for now, while decisions regarding the party name, symbol, funds, and other assets will be finalized at a later date.
By-elections for two assembly seats in West Bengal are scheduled for October 6, covering Nandigram in East Medinipur and Rejinagar in Murshidabad. Votes will be counted and results announced on October 9. The deadline for filing nominations was September 16, and the final date for withdrawal was September 19.
Ahead of the polls, both factions laid claim to the twin-flower symbol and applied for its allocation. Following an initial hearing in Delhi on September 12 that yielded no immediate decision, the commission requested additional documents from both sides by September 16. The second round of hearings took place Thursday, based on those submitted documents and testimonies.
The faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee was represented by Arup Roy, Aman Jha, Akhtaruzzaman, and Chandrima Bhattacharya. The faction loyal to Mamata Banerjee was represented by Kalyan Banerjee, Derek O'Brien, Mahua Moitra, Sagarika Ghose, and a legal counsel.
Mamata Banerjee founded the party on January 1, 1998, after breaking away from the Indian National Congress, and selected the twin-flower as its electoral symbol. The party has utilized the symbol across numerous elections following approval from the poll panel.
However, severe internal friction erupted following the recent assembly elections. Amid a major victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party and defeat for the Trinamool Congress, discontent surfaced regarding leadership and corruption allegations. Ultimately, 65 out of 80 Trinamool legislators broke away to form a dissenting faction.
This breakaway group established a rival faction under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee. They subsequently secured official recognition as the opposition in the assembly, with Banerjee elected as the opposition leader. Until a final verdict is reached on the party name and symbol, both factions must navigate the upcoming by-elections with alternative symbols.
