Election Commission bars both Trinamool factions from using party symbol in upcoming bye-elections

On Thursday the Election Commission ruled that neither the Mamata Banerjee-led nor the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress may use the party’s name or its long-standing flower-and-grass emblem in the bye-elections scheduled for October 6 in West Bengal’s Rejinagar and Nandigram assemblies and Assam’s Nagaon Lok Sabha seat. The order explained that a substantive resolution of which group legitimately represents the party requires more time than is available, even though the commission had previously granted the rebel faction three extensions in the past two months to submit documentation.

The internal clash started in June when Ritabrata Banerjee challenged Mamata Banerjee’s authority to appoint office bearers, prompting a series of letters and deadline extensions, with the rebel side finally filing a response on September 11. Both factions had initially fielded candidates in the West Bengal seats, but the Mamata-aligned group withdrew its Nagaon candidate and backed the Congress nominee after its own candidate in Nandigram withdrew.

With new temporary symbols now approved, candidates must quickly inform voters of the changes ahead of the poll. The episode highlights tensions within the party following its defeat by the BJP in West Bengal.