Election Commission freezes Trinamool name and symbol ahead of bypolls

The Election Commission has frozen the name and election symbol of the All India Trinamool Congress, formally acknowledging a dispute within the party. In an interim order issued on Thursday, the Commission directed the two rival groups — one led by Mamata Banerjee and the other by Arup Roy — to adopt separate names and symbols until the matter is resolved.

The decision comes ten days after the Commission announced by-elections to five Assembly constituencies, including Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal, and one Lok Sabha seat, scheduled for October 9. Both factions have fielded candidates for these polls.

In its order, the Commission said it was of the opinion that two rival groups exist within the party, each claiming to be the legitimate outfit. It stated that the matter requires a substantive determination under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, which governs disputes within registered political parties.

The order, issued by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, noted that there was insufficient time to complete the dispute proceedings before the bypolls. To ensure both groups are placed on an even footing and to protect their rights, the Commission said neither would be allowed to use the name All India Trinamool Congress or its "flowers and grass" symbol.

Both groups may choose names for their respective factions, including a linkage with the parent party if they wish, and will be allotted different symbols from the list of free symbols notified by the Commission for the current by-elections. The two sides have been asked to submit their preferences for names and symbols by 11 am on Friday.

Last week, the Commission met representatives of both factions and sought additional documents from the rebel group led by Ritabrata Banerjee, as the contest for organisational control and claim to the party's name and symbol intensified. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction was represented by Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien and four others, while Ritabrata Banerjee appeared before the Commission for his side.