EC Allots New Names, Symbols to Rival Trinamool Factions Ahead of Bengal Bypolls
Election Commission allots separate names and symbols to rival Trinamool Congress factions for the October 6 Bengal bypolls, freezing the original party name and symbol.
The Election Commission on Friday allotted distinct names and electoral symbols to the two rival factions of the Trinamool Congress, enabling both groups to contest the upcoming bypolls under new identities. The by-elections in West Bengal are scheduled for October 6, with counting of votes on October 9.
The faction led by Arup Roy has been named "Democratic Trinamool Congress" and allotted the "Envelope" symbol. The group led by Mamata Banerjee will contest as "Mamata All India Trinamool Congress" with the "Football Player" symbol. Both groups will be treated as recognised political parties in West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura, according to the poll body's order.
The decision follows an interim order on Thursday that froze the "All India Trinamool Congress" name and the "Flowers & Grass" symbol amid an internal dispute over control of the party. Neither faction will be permitted to use the original name or symbol in the bypolls, including those in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
The Nandigram bypoll was necessitated after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari vacated the seat and chose to retain Bhabanipur, where he had defeated TMC chief Mamata Banerjee in the Assembly elections earlier this year. The Rejinagar seat fell vacant following the resignation of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir, who had also won from Nowda.
The latest order also addresses nominations already filed. Candidates authorised by the two factions in Rejinagar, Nandigram and Nagaon will be considered under their respective newly allotted party names and symbols, subject to fulfilment of statutory requirements under Section 36 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The allocation is temporary and will remain in effect until the Commission issues its final order.
The dispute centres on competing claims over the party's organisational authority, the validity of its National Working Committee and the appointment of office-bearers. The Arup Roy-led faction, backed by the group associated with Ritabrata Banerjee, has questioned the continuation of the existing National Working Committee, arguing that its tenure expired on February 11, 2025. The Mamata Banerjee faction has challenged the validity of the rival group's claims and the election of office-bearers, arguing they are contrary to the party constitution. Its submissions, including those made by MP Derek O'Brien, maintain that amendments to the party constitution extended the tenure of the National Working Committee and other organisational bodies from three years to five years. The rival faction has disputed the validity of those amendments.
The Commission's Thursday order stated that a substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968, would be required to establish which group represents the recognised political party. Pending that decision, both factions were directed to submit three preferred names and free symbols each.