Election Commission of India reviews Trinamool Congress symbol dispute ahead of West Bengal bypolls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has granted former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee additional time until September 16 to submit documents supporting their respective claims to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) name and election symbol. The deadline coincides with the close of nominations for the October 6 Assembly by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar. Both factions seek to contest these by-polls using the party symbol, the twin grass flowers. Sources suggest the ECI may temporarily freeze the symbol, following a precedent set in the Shiv Sena case.

The Mamata Banerjee faction argues that there is no genuine dispute, citing internal elections held in 2006, 2011, 2017, and 2022 to establish her role as chairperson. They further claim that rebel MLAs used the party symbol and received funding from the party during the recent assembly elections. Conversely, the Ritabrata Banerjee faction, which includes a majority of the newly elected TMC MLAs, argues that the party is not a family property and should not be run on the whims of one person. Ritabrata Banerjee stated that his group would not field a candidate in Nandigram if Mamata Banerjee chooses to contest that seat.

The dispute follows a period of significant instability for the TMC after its defeat to the BJP in the state elections. Approximately 60 to 65 of the 80 TMC MLAs have rebelled, and the Assembly speaker has recognized the Ritabrata Banerjee group as the TMC legislature party. At the national level, 20 of 28 Lok Sabha MPs have announced a merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India to support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Additionally, four Rajya Sabha MPs have resigned, with three joining the BJP. Mamata Banerjee's faction has initiated disqualification proceedings against the rebels and has approached the Supreme Court regarding delays by the speaker.