Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Election Commission Weighs Trinamool Name, Symbol Amid Factional Fight
Two groups are arguing over which one is the real Trinamool Congress.
They both want to use the party’s name and its twin-flower symbol.
The Election Commission heard the groups separately in New Delhi.
Ritabrata Banerjee’s group says it represents the party, while Mamata Banerjee’s group says the party and symbol belong to it.
The disagreement matters because two by-elections are approaching in West Bengal.
Both groups gave the commission documents and Forms A and B. The commission may give the name and symbol to one group, leave the issue undecided, or freeze them for both.
Reports say a decision could come on Thursday or Friday.
The unhappy group may challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.
The Election Commission of India heard the two Trinamool Congress factions separately in New Delhi on Thursday.
The Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction met the commission at 3 p.m., while the Mamata Banerjee-led faction was scheduled for 4 p.m.
Both groups claim the authentic party ahead of the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls and have submitted Forms A and B.
The commission is expected to decide which faction, if either, receives the Trinamool Congress name and its ‘jora phool’ symbol; reports differ on whether the decision will come Thursday or Friday.
Possible outcomes include awarding the name and symbol to one faction, maintaining the status quo, or freezing them, potentially prompting a Supreme Court challenge.
- Who
- The Election Commission of India and two Trinamool Congress factions: one led by Ritabrata Banerjee and the other led by Mamata Banerjee, represented at the hearing by Kalyan Banerjee.
- What
- The commission is deciding which faction should receive the Trinamool Congress name and the ‘jora phool’ symbol.
- When
- The factions were heard separately on Thursday; one report expects a decision on Friday, while another says it could come Thursday.
- Where
- New Delhi, with the dispute concerning bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, West Bengal.
- Why
- Both factions claim to be the authentic party and have submitted competing Forms A and B ahead of the by-elections.
Ritabrata-led Faction
Mamata-led Faction
Claim to party control
Ritabrata-led Faction
The faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee claims to represent the Trinamool Congress and is described in one report as the ‘rebel but majority’ faction.
Mamata-led Faction
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction says it is the original party group; Kalyan Banerjee argued that Mamata Banerjee founded the party and that the symbol belongs to her side.
Validity of organisational claims
Ritabrata-led Faction
Ritabrata Banerjee said his faction presented its arguments and documents to the commission and urged trust in the electoral process.
Mamata-led Faction
Kalyan Banerjee argued that the rival faction’s claimed June 22 session skipped required processes and lacked notice to MPs, and that valid elections must follow the party’s constitutional hierarchy.
Interim action and symbol allocation
Ritabrata-led Faction
The faction seeks recognition and has submitted Forms A and B for the bypolls, making symbol allotment an immediate issue.
Mamata-led Faction
The Mamata camp argued that the rival faction has no basis for interim relief, urged the commission not to act on matters before courts, and proposed showing the groups’ organisational strength at Brigade Parade Ground.
- Hearing times
- Ritabrata Banerjee’s faction was allotted 3 p.m.; the Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted 4 p.m. on Thursday.
- Earlier hearing
- The Election Commission heard both factions on September 12 but did not decide the matter.
- Contested symbol
- The disputed symbol is the ‘jora phool’, or twin-flower, symbol.
- Bypolls
- The dispute affects the Nandigram and Rejinagar by-elections.
- Documents
- Both factions submitted Forms A and B and were asked to provide additional documents.
- Possible outcomes
- The commission could award the name and symbol to one faction, maintain the status quo, or freeze both.
- Legal challenge
- Political observers expect an aggrieved faction to move the Supreme Court.
