Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Election Commission Gives Rival TMC Factions New Identities
The Trinamool Congress has split into two competing groups.
Both groups wanted to use the party’s old name and election symbol.
The Election Commission has temporarily stopped both sides from using them.
Mamata Banerjee’s group will use the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and a Football Player symbol.
The other group will use the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and an Envelope symbol.
These identities will be used for by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
Voting is scheduled for October 6, and votes will be counted on October 9.
The Commission will make a final decision about the party’s original identity later.
The Election Commission assigned Mamata Banerjee’s faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol.
The rival faction was assigned the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol.
Both groups were barred from using the original “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 scheduled for October 9.
The new identities remain temporary while the Commission decides which faction, if either, controls the original party name and symbol.
- Who
- The Election Commission of India and two rival Trinamool Congress factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy; reports also identify Ritabrata Banerjee as a leader or representative of the rebel camp.
- What
- The Commission allotted temporary names and election symbols to the two factions and froze use of the original party name and symbol.
- When
- The allotment was announced on Friday, ahead of bypolls on October 6; counting is scheduled for October 9.
- Where
- The bypolls will take place in Nandigram in East Midnapore and Rejinagar in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
- Why
- The Commission said an interim arrangement was needed because both factions claim control of the party and there was insufficient time to complete the final dispute proceedings before the bypolls.
Mamata Banerjee faction
Rival faction
Temporary election identity
Mamata Banerjee faction
The faction led by Mamata Banerjee will contest as Mamata All India Trinamool Congress using the Football Player symbol.
Rival faction
The rival faction will contest as Democratic Trinamool Congress using the Envelope symbol.
Claim to the original party
Mamata Banerjee faction
Mamata’s group maintains its claim to the original Trinamool Congress organisation, name and Flowers and Grass symbol.
Rival faction
The rival group also claims control of the original party identity; reports differ over whether it is led by Arup Roy or represented politically by Ritabrata Banerjee.
Reaction to the EC order
Mamata Banerjee faction
Mamata loyalists described the decision as legally flawed or damaging, while saying the faction would contest the bypolls under her leadership.
Rival faction
The rival camp welcomed or accepted the interim arrangement and presented it as part of a democratic and constitutional process.
- Mamata faction
- Mamata All India Trinamool Congress; Football Player symbol
- Rival faction
- Democratic Trinamool Congress; Envelope symbol
- Original identity
- All India Trinamool Congress name and Flowers and Grass symbol frozen for the bypolls
- Bypoll constituencies
- Nandigram and Rejinagar
- Polling date
- October 6
- Counting date
- October 9
- Recognition
- Both newly named factions were recognised as political parties in West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura
- Legal status
- The names and symbols are interim and remain subject to the Commission’s final decision
Sources
TMC Split: Didi’s Faction Gets Footballer Symbol, Rebels Get Envelope
Rival Trinamool factions get new names, symbols for bypolls
Football, bat, ‘Mamata’: Didi tries a ‘khela hobe’ in poll identity search
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
Football player and envelope: Mamata Banerjee's camp, rebels get new name, symbol
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
Football vs Envelope: Mamata, rebels get new names, symbols
