Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Election Commission Splits TMC Name Ahead of Bengal Bypolls
The Trinamool Congress party has split into rival groups.
The groups disagreed over who should use the party’s name and election symbol.
The Election Commission listened to both sides.
It temporarily stopped both groups from using the old name and symbol.
It then gave Mamata Banerjee’s group one new name.
Arup Roy’s group received a different name.
Suvendu Adhikari said the split was caused by the TMC’s own problems and past statements.
The two groups will use their new names in October’s assembly bypolls.
The Election Commission assigned separate names to two rival TMC factions ahead of October 6 bypolls.
Mamata Banerjee’s faction was named ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’.
The rival faction led by Arup Roy was named ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’.
The commission had barred both groups from using the AITC name and ‘Jora Ghash Phul’ symbol for the bypolls.
Suvendu Adhikari blamed the crisis on TMC divisions, arrogance and alleged anti-Hindu statements, while denying BJP involvement.
- Who
- Mamata Banerjee’s TMC faction, the rival faction led by Arup Roy, the Election Commission, and Suvendu Adhikari.
- What
- The Election Commission assigned different names to two TMC factions and barred them from using the original party name and symbol for upcoming bypolls.
- When
- The decision was announced on Friday, after an interim order issued Thursday night; the bypolls are scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9.
- Where
- West Bengal, including the Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly constituencies.
- Why
- The commission acted after hearing a dispute over which faction could use the TMC name and election symbol.
TMC Factions’ Dispute
Adhikari’s Political Interpretation
Cause of the crisis
TMC Factions’ Dispute
The two groups disputed control of the party name and election symbol, leading the Election Commission to assign separate names.
Adhikari’s Political Interpretation
Suvendu Adhikari attributed the split to Mamata Banerjee’s failure to keep the party united, arrogance and past political statements.
Role of the BJP
TMC Factions’ Dispute
The Election Commission’s order followed hearings involving both rival factions in the party-name dispute.
Adhikari’s Political Interpretation
Adhikari said the Bharatiya Janata Party had no direct role in the commission’s decision.
Religious controversy
TMC Factions’ Dispute
The report describes the dispute and the commission’s administrative decision without presenting a response from the TMC factions to Adhikari’s religious claims.
Adhikari’s Political Interpretation
Adhikari alleged that TMC statements about Hinduism, the Maha Kumbh and the Ram temple had hurt religious sentiments and caused the party’s present troubles.
- Mamata faction
- Named ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’.
- Arup Roy faction
- Named ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’.
- Original party name
- All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).
- Original symbol
- ‘Jora Ghash Phul’, or two flowers with grass.
- Banned usage
- Neither faction may use the original name or symbol for the bypolls.
- Bypoll date
- October 6.
- Counting date
- October 9.