The Election Commission of India (ECI) has allotted new names and election symbols to the two rival factions of the Trinamool Congress ahead of the October 6 West Bengal bypolls.
The faction led by Mamata Banerjee has been allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol. The rival faction led by Arup Roy has been given the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” along with an “Envelope” symbol.
The decision comes a day after the Election Commission stopped both groups from using the original “All India Trinamool Congress” name and the party’s traditional “Flowers and Grass” symbol while the dispute over control of the party remains unresolved.
The Commission said the two groups would operate under separate names and symbols for the current electoral process. Both factions have been recognised as political parties in West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura for this arrangement.
EC Steps In After Rival Claims
The dispute intensified after rival groups claimed control over the Trinamool Congress and approached the Election Commission seeking recognition as the legitimate faction.
The poll panel heard representatives of both sides at its headquarters in New Delhi on September 17. Following the hearing, the ECI directed both factions to stop using the original party name and symbol for the upcoming bypolls.
The Commission then asked both groups to submit three choices for alternative names and symbols.
The latest allocation allows candidates from the rival groups to contest the bypolls without confusion over which faction they represent. The ECI’s intervention came after candidates backed by both sides had submitted nomination papers using authorisations from their respective factions.
Mamata Faction Gets Football Player Symbol
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction will contest under the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress”.
The Election Commission has allotted the group the “Football Player” symbol for the current electoral exercise.
The decision gives the faction a distinct identity for the bypolls while the larger dispute over the original TMC name and symbol continues before the poll panel.
Arup Roy Faction Gets Envelope Symbol
The faction led by Arup Roy has been allotted “Democratic Trinamool Congress” as its name and an “Envelope” as its election symbol.
West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee said the faction had submitted three preferred names, including “Nationalist Trinamool Congress”, “West Bengal Trinamool Congress” and “Democratic Trinamool Congress”.
According to his remarks, the Election Commission did not approve the first two choices but accepted the third option. He also said the faction received its first preference when it came to the election symbol.
Reacting to the name given to the Mamata-led faction, Ritabrata criticised the decision and alleged that it reflected what he described as an individual-centric approach to politics. These remarks represent the faction’s political position and are not an Election Commission finding.
Original TMC Name and Symbol Remain Frozen
The Election Commission’s latest decision does not settle the larger dispute over which faction is entitled to the original “All India Trinamool Congress” name and the “Flowers and Grass” symbol.
The original name and symbol remain unavailable to both groups under the interim arrangement while the Commission considers the rival claims.
The ECI had said that the dispute required a substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
New Names Ahead of Bengal Bypolls
The fresh identities will be used in the upcoming bypolls, including contests in West Bengal’s Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies. The developments also affect the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll in Assam, where candidates had filed nominations backed by the rival factions.
The Election Commission’s intervention is aimed at allowing the electoral process to continue while avoiding confusion caused by rival candidates claiming to represent the same party.
For now, the two factions will contest under separate names and symbols, while the underlying dispute over control of the Trinamool Congress remains before the Election Commission.
