TMC vs TMC: EC bars both factions from using party symbol, name in Bengal bypolls

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday barred both rival Trinamool Congress (TMC) factions from using the party’s name and reserved election symbol in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly bypolls, according to an interim order.The decision comes ahead of the October 6 bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, where factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee had fielded candidates while staking claim to the TMC identity and its twin-flowers-on-grass symbol.The poll panel has been hearing competing claims from the two factions over control of the party, its name and election symbol. Both sides have submitted documents and appeared before the Commission during the proceedings.The dispute reached the Election Commission in July after the rival factions staked competing claims to control of the TMC. The Commission subsequently sought responses on issues including organisational control, authorised signatories, party assets, name and election symbol.The issue gained urgency after the EC announced the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls for October 6. With nominations closing on September 16, the Commission faced a deadline to determine how the rival factions would contest the elections.The Commission held separate meetings with representatives of both factions on September 12.The Mamata faction was represented by Derek O’Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Sagarika Ghose, Saket Gokhale and advocate Abhinav Singh. The Ritabrata faction was represented by Ritabrata Banerjee, Akhruzzaman, Arup Roy, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Riju Datt.Both sides maintained that they represented the legitimate TMC and sought recognition of their claim to the party name and symbol.The Mamata faction argued that Banerjee remained the party chairperson and that the national working committee was still within its five-year term.The rival faction contended that the party constitution provided for a three-year term, which it said had ended in February 2025.

On September 13, the EC sought final submissions from both factions by 3 pm on September 16, the nomination deadline for the two bypolls. The Commission indicated that another hearing could be held on September 17.At the time, the Mamata faction said that in the absence of an interim order, it would contest using the original TMC symbol. The Ritabrata faction maintained that the EC alone could decide which side was entitled to use the party name and symbol.On September 15, TOI reported that the Commission was likely to issue an interim ruling on September 17. The EC subsequently scheduled another hearing with both factions on Thursday.