Big setback for Mamata Banerjee: ECI freezes TMC name, ‘twin flowers’ symbol amid factional split

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has instructed opposing factions of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) to refrain from using the party name or its "Flowers and Grass" election symbol during upcoming West Bengal assembly by-elections, ordering both camps to submit alternative names and symbols by Friday morning.

In an interim ruling released Thursday night following hearings with delegates from the rival groups led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy, the electoral authority determined that the dispute necessitates formal adjudication under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

"On due consideration of the totality of information available on record... the commission is of the opinion that there are two rival groups in the All India Trinamool Congress, one led by Ms Mamata Banerjee and the other led by Shri Arup Roy," the interim order stated.

"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 added.

The poll body noted that the temporary directive was issued to maintain parity between both camps, safeguard their interests, and align with historical precedent pending a definitive verdict on the party's ownership.

"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 directive stated.

"Neither of the two groups shall also be permitted to use the symbol 'Flowers and Grass', reserved for 'All India Trinamool Congress'," the commission confirmed.

The panel stated that both factions will operate under temporary names of their choosing, with the option to include a reference to the parent "All India Trinamool Congress" organisation. Each group will receive distinct election symbols selected from the commission's list of unreserved symbols for the duration of the bypolls.

"Accordingly, both the groups are hereby directed to furnish, latest by 11:00 AM on 18.09.2026: The names of their groups by which they may be recognised by the commission and, to this end, give three options in order of preference, any one of which may be approved by the commission and the symbols which may be allotted to the candidates set up, if any, by the respective groups. They may indicate the names of three free symbols, in the order of their preference, any one of which may be allotted to their candidates by the commission," the poll authority directed.

Both factions presented arguments asserting legal entitlement to the party's name and brand ahead of by-elections scheduled for 6 October in West Bengal's Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies.

PTI