Rival Trinamool Factions Submit Fresh Names and Symbols for Bengal Bypolls
Both Trinamool factions have proposed new names and symbols after the poll body barred them from using the party name and its symbol in the Bengal bypolls.
Two competing groups within the Trinamool Congress have submitted fresh names and symbols for the upcoming bypolls in West Bengal, after the election authority barred both sides from using the party's name and its "Flowers and Grass" symbol.
The interim direction, issued on Thursday, applies for the duration of the bypolls. The poll body said the restriction was meant to place the rival groups on an even keel and to protect their rights and interests while the dispute between them remains unresolved.
With the party name and its familiar symbol off the table, each faction has now proposed an alternative identity for the ballot. The submissions mark the next step in a contest that has seen the two groups press rival claims to the Trinamool legacy.
The interim order does not settle the larger question of which group is entitled to the party's name and symbol. It applies only to the bypolls, leaving the broader dispute to be decided separately.
By directing both sides to contest under new names and symbols, the poll body has sought to ensure that neither faction gains an advantage from the party's established identity before the matter is resolved.