Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Bengal Trinamool Factions Challenge Party Symbol Before Bypolls
Two groups are arguing about who should lead the Trinamool Congress.
They also disagree about who can use the party’s election symbol.
The Election Commission met representatives from both groups.
The Ritabrata Banerjee group showed documents and was asked to submit more.
The Mamata Banerjee group said its leadership was properly elected and that its leaders serve five-year terms.
The Election Commission has not yet officially declared a dispute.
The dispute matters because only one group can use the party’s symbol in the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls.
The Ritabrata group has said it will not contest Nandigram if Mamata Banerjee runs there.
The Election Commission met both Trinamool Congress factions before nominations opened for two Bengal bypolls.
The Ritabrata Banerjee faction submitted documents supporting its claim to party leadership and was asked to provide more.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction said its chairperson and national working committee are elected on five-year terms.
The Election Commission has not yet declared a formal dispute under Paragraph 15 of the Symbols Order, 1968.
Only the faction recognised by the Election Commission can use the twin flowers on grass symbol in the bypolls.
- Who
- The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress faction and the faction led by Bengal Opposition leader Ritabrata Banerjee.
- What
- The factions are contesting party leadership, organisational elections, authorised signatories and control of the party symbol.
- When
- The Election Commission met both factions on Saturday, four days before the nomination deadline; the bypolls are scheduled for October 6.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the Trinamool Congress in Bengal and the bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
- Why
- The Election Commission must determine which faction it recognises as the Trinamool Congress and therefore which group can use the twin flowers on grass symbol.
Ritabrata Banerjee Faction
Mamata Banerjee Faction
Who controls the party
Ritabrata Banerjee Faction
The faction says its control of the legislature party and its organisational decisions support its claim to leadership.
Mamata Banerjee Faction
The faction says Mamata Banerjee remains the recognised chairperson and that the Trinamool Congress’s established organisational structure supports her authority.
Validity of leadership claims
Ritabrata Banerjee Faction
The faction presented documents to the Election Commission and said proper, genuine documentation is important in a parliamentary democracy.
Mamata Banerjee Faction
The faction says internal elections have taken place every five years and has submitted documents arguing that its leadership arrangements are valid.
Use of the election symbol
Ritabrata Banerjee Faction
The faction’s claim could affect which group is entitled to represent the Trinamool Congress in the bypolls.
Mamata Banerjee Faction
The faction says only Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress is the legitimate party and should retain the twin flowers on grass symbol.
- Election Commission status
- The poll panel has not yet issued a Declaration of Dispute or begun proceedings under Paragraph 15 of the Symbols Order, 1968.
- Bypoll constituencies
- Nandigram and Rejinagar
- Bypoll date
- October 6
- Disputed symbol
- Twin flowers on grass
- Ritabrata faction
- Ritabrata Banerjee was recognised as Bengal Opposition leader on June 3; his supporters later elected Arup Roy as party chairman.
- Leadership-term claim
- The Mamata faction says the chairperson and national working committee have five-year terms, with internal elections held in 2006, 2011, 2017 and 2022.
- Nomination position
- The Ritabrata faction has said it will not field a candidate in Nandigram if Mamata Banerjee contests there.