The Election Commission of India has assigned new names and election symbols to the two rival factions involved in the ongoing Trinamool Congress dispute.
The development comes a day after the poll panel barred both sides from using the original “All India Trinamool Congress” name and its traditional “Flowers and Grass” election symbol for the upcoming by-elections.
Under the latest arrangement, the faction led by Mamata Banerjee has been allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol.
The rival faction has been allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol. Recent reports identify the rival group with Ritabrata Banerjee, while reporting on the faction’s leadership has also referred to Arup Roy.
Mamata Faction Gets New Party Name
The Election Commission had directed both factions to submit three alternative names and three free-symbol choices by September 18.
The Mamata-led faction subsequently submitted its preferred options to the Commission. The poll panel has now approved “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” as its new electoral identity.
The faction will contest under the Football Player symbol in the upcoming electoral contests.
Rival Faction Gets Democratic Trinamool Congress Name
The rival faction has been assigned the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the Envelope symbol.
The new allocation gives the two sides separate names and symbols for the upcoming contests, avoiding confusion over candidates who had earlier sought to contest under the original TMC identity.
According to reports on the Election Commission’s order, candidates who had already submitted nomination papers using Form-B authorisations from the respective factions will now be treated as candidates of their newly allotted parties.
Why Did the Election Commission Change the TMC Identity?
The Commission’s latest decision follows its September 17 interim order freezing the use of the All India Trinamool Congress name and the Flowers and Grass symbol by both factions.
The dispute has a direct bearing on upcoming by-elections, including contests in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal, as well as the Nagaon parliamentary constituency in Assam.
The Commission’s interim arrangement allows candidates from both factions to contest under distinct identities while the larger dispute over the original party name and symbol remains pending.
What Happens to the Original TMC Name and Symbol?
The allotment of the new names and symbols does not, by itself, settle the underlying dispute over ownership of the original All India Trinamool Congress identity and the Flowers and Grass symbol.
For the upcoming electoral contests, however, the two factions will operate under their newly allotted names and symbols.
The latest decision therefore marks a new phase in the TMC’s internal dispute, with both sides now having separate electoral identities for the contests ahead.
