- Election Commission allotted separate names and symbols to both the factions
- It specified that the names and symbols have been allotted only for the coming bypolls
- The majority of the MLAs joined the Ritabrata faction following a humiliating defeat
TMC Crisis: A day after freezing the existing name and symbol of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Election Commission on Friday allotted separate names and symbols to both the Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy-led factions ahead of the bypolls. The Banerjee-led faction has been allotted the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and the election symbol 'football player', while the other faction was allotted the 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' name with 'Envelope' as its symbol.
Temporary Names, Symbols Allotted
However, the Election Commission has specified that the names and symbols have been allotted only for the coming bypolls and will not be used in future. The allocation came a day after the poll body, upon listening to the arguments of both the parties, decided to freeze the name and symbol of the Trinamool Congress.
The poll body asserted that neither the Mamata Banerjee nor the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction, represented by Arup Roy, will be allowed to use the party name and symbol until a final determination on the matter. "Neither of the two groups led by Shri Arup Roy (Petitioner) and the other led by Ms Mamata Banerjee (Respondent) shall be permitted to use the name of the party All India Trinamool Congress," the order stated.
Both Parties Claimed To Be Real TMC: EC
It further stated that the temporary decision has been taken after both the factions claimed to be the "real" Trinamool, adding that a conclusive decision will be taken after the bypolls. "Each group is now claiming to be the party, and therefore the matter requires a substantive determination by the Commission under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order 1968," it said.
In a series of setbacks for Mamata Banerjee, the majority of the MLAs joined the Ritabrata faction following a humiliating defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies will be held on October 6.