Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Nandigram, Rejinagar Bypolls Test Bengal’s Opposition After TMC Split
West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress party has split into two groups.
One group is led by Mamata Banerjee.
The other group is led by MLA Ritabrata Banerjee and includes a majority of the party’s MLAs, according to the article.
Because of the split, the Election Commission of India stopped both groups from using the old party name and symbol.
Mamata Banerjee’s group was given a new name and a football-player symbol.
The other group was given the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and an envelope symbol.
The split has created more space for other Opposition parties in West Bengal.
TMC leader Sagarika Ghosh questioned how the Commission decided which group represented the original party.
The split of the Trinamool Congress has opened West Bengal’s Opposition space to multiple parties.
Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee leads one faction, while a majority of MLAs reportedly broke away under MLA Ritabrata Banerjee.
The Election Commission of India froze the TMC’s “two flowers and grass” symbol and barred use of the name “All India Trinamool Congress.”
The Commission named Mamata Banerjee’s faction the Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and assigned it a “football player” symbol.
The rival Democratic Trinamool Congress received an “envelope” symbol, while TMC leader Sagarika Ghosh questioned the ECI’s criteria.
- Who
- The Trinamool Congress factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee, with the Election Commission of India deciding their names and symbols.
- What
- The TMC split has led to competing factions, new names and symbols, and a test for West Bengal’s Opposition politics.
- When
- After the change of power in West Bengal this May.
- Where
- West Bengal, including the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypoll context mentioned in the headline.
- Why
- Multiple parties are seeking to establish a foothold in the Opposition space after the TMC split.
Mamata All India Trinamool Congress
Democratic Trinamool Congress
Party identity
Mamata All India Trinamool Congress
Mamata Banerjee’s faction was named the Mamata All India Trinamool Congress by the Election Commission of India.
Democratic Trinamool Congress
The rival faction was named the Democratic Trinamool Congress after a majority of MLAs reportedly broke away under Ritabrata Banerjee.
Election symbol
Mamata All India Trinamool Congress
The faction received a “football player” symbol after the original TMC symbol was frozen.
Democratic Trinamool Congress
The faction received an “envelope” symbol after the original TMC symbol was frozen.
Recognition criteria
Mamata All India Trinamool Congress
TMC leader Sagarika Ghosh questioned the Election Commission’s parameters for deciding which faction represented the real TMC.
Democratic Trinamool Congress
The article does not provide a response from the Democratic Trinamool Congress to that criticism.
- Party involved
- Trinamool Congress (TMC)
- Former chief minister
- Mamata Banerjee
- Breakaway faction leader
- MLA Ritabrata Banerjee
- Frozen symbol
- “Two flowers and grass”
- Mamata faction
- Mamata All India Trinamool Congress (MAITC), with a “football player” symbol
- Other faction
- Democratic Trinamool Congress (DTC), with an “envelope” symbol
- Election authority
- Election Commission of India