Archive · 18 Sep 2026
TMC Factions Receive New Symbols Amid Political and Cultural Disputes
The Election Commission gave two groups of the Trinamool Congress different names and symbols.
Mamata Banerjee’s group received a football-player symbol, while Arup Roy’s group received an envelope.
Mamata’s group also decided to support the Congress candidate in the Nandigram election.
A university in Hyderabad cancelled a documentary screening after the film-certification board said the film was not certified.
The film was about activist Umar Khalid.
A Marathi film called Gondhal will represent India at the 2027 Oscars, according to the report.
Surendra Koli, who had been acquitted in the Nithari killings cases, died by suicide.
India’s food regulator also began legal action involving Nestlé India baby food products, while the company said its products follow regulations.
The Election Commission gave Mamata Banerjee’s faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and a football-player symbol.
The Arup Roy faction was named “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and received an envelope symbol after both groups lost use of the original party name and symbol.
Mamata Banerjee’s faction withdrew its Nandigram candidate and said it would support the Congress nominee to strengthen the INDIA bloc.
IIIT Hyderabad cancelled a screening of a documentary about Umar Khalid after the film-certification board objected to the uncertified public screening.
The roundup also reports India’s Oscar submission, Surendra Koli’s death by suicide, and regulatory action involving Nestlé India baby food products.
- Who
- The Election Commission, Mamata Banerjee’s and Arup Roy’s Trinamool Congress factions, IIIT Hyderabad, the Central Board of Film Certification, filmmaker Santosh Davakhar, Surendra Koli, and Nestlé India are among those involved.
- What
- The roundup covers new party names and symbols, an electoral alliance decision, a cancelled documentary screening, an Oscar selection, Koli’s death, and food-regulatory action.
- When
- The Election Commission decisions were reported on Friday after an order on Thursday; the bye-polls are scheduled for October 6, while the other events are described without a specific date.
- Where
- The political events concern West Bengal, including Nandigram; the documentary dispute concerns IIIT Hyderabad.
- Why
- The party factions were assigned new identities after being barred from using the original party name and symbol; the screening was cancelled over certification concerns; and the food regulator acted after testing and reviewing claims about baby food products.
Authorities and Regulators
Affected Parties
Documentary certification
Authorities and Regulators
The Central Board of Film Certification said public screening of an uncertified documentary violated the 1952 Cinematograph Act.
Affected Parties
IIIT Hyderabad cancelled the screening and said its director had not given permission for it, describing the announcement as not legitimate.
Nestlé product compliance
Authorities and Regulators
The food regulator initiated legal action after finding one baby food sample substandard and raised concerns about claims on two other products.
Affected Parties
Nestlé India said its products were fully compliant with all applicable regulations.
Nandigram opposition strategy
Authorities and Regulators
Mamata Banerjee said supporting the Congress candidate served the greater interest of the country and would strengthen the INDIA bloc.
Affected Parties
The faction had initially nominated Sanchita Pradhan, whose withdrawal followed the circulation of photographs of her meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
- Mamata faction
- Named “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress”; symbol: football player.
- Arup Roy faction
- Named “Democratic Trinamool Congress”; symbol: envelope.
- Nandigram election
- Mamata Banerjee’s faction said it would support Congress candidate Milan Pradhan after Sanchita Pradhan withdrew.
- Documentary screening
- IIIT Hyderabad cancelled the screening of “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present.”
- Oscar selection
- Santosh Davakhar’s Marathi-language film “Gondhal” will represent India at the 2027 Oscars.
- Nithari case
- Surendra Koli had spent nearly 19 years in jail and was acquitted in the last pending case in November.
- Food regulation
- The food regulator said a Nestlé India baby food sample was substandard and flagged allegedly misleading claims involving two other products.