Archive · 24 Sep 2026
TMC Symbol Freeze Deepens Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal Crisis
The TMC party in West Bengal is fighting an internal leadership battle.
Because of this dispute, the Election Commission temporarily stopped the party from using its usual flower-and-grass symbol.
The party must use a football symbol for the upcoming by-polls.
This could confuse voters because the new symbol is unfamiliar.
The Nandigram TMC candidate withdrew from the election.
The Congress candidate supported by Mamata Banerjee is in jail.
In Rejinagar, the TMC candidate first withdrew but later returned to the contest.
The BJP believes it can win both seats, while other parties accuse it of unfair tactics.
The Election Commission of India temporarily froze the TMC’s familiar election symbol amid a dispute over party leadership.
The internal conflict has produced a vertical split between factions claiming to represent the real TMC.
The TMC faces by-polls in Nandigram and Rejinagar on October 6 without its longtime “Jora Ghash Phul” symbol.
In Nandigram, TMC candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew, while the Congress candidate supported by Mamata Banerjee is in jail.
The BJP says it can win both seats, while opposition parties accuse it of using immoral tactics.
- Who
- The TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, along with BJP and other opposition parties.
- What
- The Election Commission of India temporarily froze the TMC’s election symbol during an internal party dispute.
- When
- The by-polls are scheduled for October 6; the articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- West Bengal, particularly the Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies.
- Why
- The symbol was frozen after a vertical split within the TMC, with rival factions claiming to represent the party.
TMC and Other Opposition Parties
BJP
Election prospects
TMC and Other Opposition Parties
The symbol freeze is an organisational and voter-recognition handicap that could seriously damage the TMC’s prospects.
BJP
The BJP is confident of winning both Nandigram and Rejinagar despite the TMC’s campaign difficulties.
Tactics in the by-polls
TMC and Other Opposition Parties
Other opposition parties allege that the BJP is using immoral tactics.
BJP
The BJP’s position is presented as confidence in its electoral prospects; the article does not include a direct response to the allegations.
Effect of the new symbol
TMC and Other Opposition Parties
TMC supporters and candidates reportedly fear that the unfamiliar football symbol will confuse voters during the short campaign.
BJP
The BJP stands to benefit politically from the TMC’s difficulty communicating its temporary symbol, according to the article’s assessment.
- Party affected
- TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee
- Election authority
- Election Commission of India
- Frozen symbol
- “Jora Ghash Phul”
- Temporary symbol
- Football
- By-poll date
- October 6; year not specified
- Constituencies
- Nandigram and Rejinagar
- Nandigram development
- TMC candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew; the TMC-supported Congress candidate is in jail
- Rejinagar development
- Rabiul Alam Chowdhury initially withdrew but later reversed his decision