EC Sets Wednesday Deadline for Mamata Banerjee in Trinamool Symbol Dispute

A dispute over control of the Trinamool Congress and its election symbol has moved to the Election Commission, which heard representatives of both rival camps in New Delhi on Saturday.

One faction is led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, while the other remains loyal to former chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Both sides claim the right to run the party and to use the 'jora phool' (two flower) symbol that has been associated with Mamata Banerjee since she left the Congress to found the party.

The Commission has given Mamata Banerjee time until 3 pm on Wednesday to make her final submission. She has been asked to state whether she has anything further to say or any additional document to file, and to send copies of the same to the rival camp as evidence. The Commission said it will arrange a hearing on Thursday if required.

In its letter to the former chief minister, the poll body said it had heard the views of the camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee as well as a delegation from Kalighat, the area used to refer to Mamata Banerjee's camp. Both sides have submitted documents to back their claims.

Kalyan Banerjee, a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, said the Commission had not passed any interim order and had asked them to appear on September 16 and 17. He said their candidates would contest the by-elections on their symbol.

Another leader from the same camp, Kunal Ghosh, criticised Ritabrata Banerjee, saying the Trinamool is not anyone's personal property and accusing the rival side of backstabbing Mamata Banerjee, who he said built the party. He declined to comment on the technical aspects, saying the party leadership, including Mamata Banerjee and party lawyer Kalyan Banerjee, were handling the matter.

Ritabrata Banerjee said he had gone through the Commission's letter to his former boss and described the communication as routine. He said the full bench of the Commission had met them, heard their submissions and answered their queries, and that hard copies along with emails had been submitted. He added that the letters sent to him and to Mamata Banerjee had the same content, and expressed hope that the Commission would decide soon.

On Kalyan Banerjee's remark about the symbol, Ritabrata Banerjee said neither of them could decide who gets the logo and that only the Election Commission can decide the matter.

Wednesday is also the last day for filing nominations for by-elections to two vacant assembly seats in the state, including Nandigram, where Banerjee lost to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in the 2021 contest.

West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul sought to turn the internal rift to the BJP's advantage, asserting that the Mamata Banerjee-led party is "finished" and that the outcome in both Rejinagar and Nandigram bypolls is known.