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EC Assigns Rival TMC Factions New Names, Symbols
The Trinamool Congress party has split into two rival groups.
Both groups wanted to use the same party name and election symbol.
The Election Commission stopped both sides from using the old name and the Flowers and Grass symbol.
Mamata Banerjee’s group received a new name and a Football Player symbol.
The other group received the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and an Envelope symbol.
These new names and symbols will be used in the upcoming by-elections.
The election is being held in Nandigram and Rejinagar on October 6.
The Commission will make a final decision later about who can use the original party identity.
The Election Commission allotted Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Football Player symbol to Mamata Banerjee’s faction.
The rival faction received the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the Envelope symbol.
Both groups were barred from using the All India Trinamool Congress name and Flowers and Grass symbol.
The interim arrangement applies to the October 6 bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, with counting on October 9.
The new identities remain temporary while the Election Commission considers control of the party’s original name and symbol.
- Who
- The Election Commission of India and two rival Trinamool Congress factions, including Mamata Banerjee’s group and a rebel faction identified in reports as led by Arup Roy or Ritabrata Banerjee.
- What
- The Commission assigned separate temporary names and election symbols to the two factions and froze use of the original party name and symbol.
- Where
- The bypolls will be held in Nandigram in East Midnapore and Rejinagar in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
- When
- The decision was announced on Friday; the bypolls are scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9.
- Why
- The Commission said an interim arrangement was necessary while it considers the rival claims over the party’s organisational control, name and symbol.
Mamata-led faction
Rebel faction
Party identity
Mamata-led faction
The faction led by Mamata Banerjee will contest as Mamata All India Trinamool Congress using the Football Player symbol.
Rebel faction
The rival faction will contest as Democratic Trinamool Congress using the Envelope symbol; reports differ on whether it is led by Arup Roy or Ritabrata Banerjee.
Claim to the original identity
Mamata-led faction
The Mamata faction is described in one report as the original but minority group and is seeking to retain the party’s organisational identity.
Rebel faction
The rival faction is described in one report as the rebel but majority group and is also claiming control of the original party identity.
Election participation
Mamata-led faction
The faction has fielded candidates for Nandigram and Rejinagar under its newly assigned name and symbol.
Rebel faction
The rival faction has also fielded candidates for both bypolls and will contest under its newly assigned name and symbol.
Key facts
- Mamata faction
- Mamata All India Trinamool Congress; Football Player symbol
- Rebel faction
- Democratic Trinamool Congress; Envelope symbol
- Frozen identity
- All India Trinamool Congress name and Flowers and Grass symbol
- Bypoll date
- October 6
- Counting date
- October 9
- Bypoll constituencies
- Nandigram and Rejinagar
- Recognition
- Both newly named factions were described as recognised political parties in West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura
- Status
- The names and symbols are interim and remain subject to the Commission’s final decision
Quotes
Election Commission of India
India’s election management authority issuing the interim order
“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 '.”
deccanchronicle.com
m.rediff.com
livemint.com
Ritabrata Banerjee
West Bengal Leader of Opposition commenting on the factional dispute
“Politics is a permanent war; a war at every hour; a war at every minute; a war at every second - a war that changes interests, needs and priorities. Long live the eternal ideas & values of Democracy enshrined in India’s Constitution.”
deccanchronicle.com
livemint.com
Sources
TMC Split: Didi’s Faction Gets Footballer Symbol, Rebels Get Envelope
Rival Trinamool factions get new names, symbols for bypolls
EC allots new names for both TMC factions
Mamata Gets ‘Football Player’, Ritabrata ‘Envelope’ As EC Allots New TMC Names, Symbols
TMC Symbol Row: Mamata Camp Gets Football Player, Rebel Faction Envelope Symbol For Bengal Bypoll
ECI allots new names, symbols to rival Trinamool factions
Mamata faction of TMC faction gets football player poll symbol and new party name; rebel camp envelope
Mamata Banerjee’s TMC, rebel faction get new names and symbols ahead of bye-polls
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