Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Election Commission Delays TMC Symbol Decision Ahead of Bengal Bypolls
Two groups are arguing about which one is the real Trinamool Congress.
One group supports Mamata Banerjee, and the other supports Ritabrata Banerjee.
Both groups want the party name, its money and property, and the “Flowers and Grass” election symbol.
The Election Commission of India is listening to both sides.
It has asked for more papers and explanations before making a decision.
The groups need to choose candidates for bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar by September 16.
Those elections will happen on October 6.
If the Commission does not decide soon, the groups may have to use different symbols instead of the usual party symbol.
The Election Commission of India is considering rival claims to the Trinamool Congress name, organisation, assets, and “Flowers and Grass” symbol.
The factions are led by former chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Opposition leader Ritabrata Banerjee.
The Commission has sought additional documents from the Ritabrata-led faction and views from the Mamata-led faction, delaying certainty over a decision.
If no ruling comes before nominations close on September 16, both factions may contest the October 6 Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls with free or separately allotted symbols.
The Mamata faction cites a 2022 internal election and five-year terms, while the rebel bloc says the national working committee’s three-year term expired on February 11, 2025.
- Who
- The Mamata Banerjee-led and Ritabrata Banerjee-led factions of the Trinamool Congress, with the Election Commission of India examining their claims.
- What
- A dispute over control of the Trinamool Congress name, organisation, assets, bank accounts, and election symbol.
- When
- The Commission held recent separate hearings and exchanged further documents before the September 16 nomination deadline; the bypolls are scheduled for October 6 and results for October 9.
- Where
- The hearings took place in Delhi, while the disputed bypolls concern Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal.
- Why
- Both factions claim to be the legitimate Trinamool Congress and want control of its official identity, symbol, and assets.
Mamata-led faction
Ritabrata-led rebel faction
Legitimate party leadership
Mamata-led faction
The faction says there is no genuine party dispute and that Mamata Banerjee remains the Trinamool Congress chairperson.
Ritabrata-led rebel faction
The faction says it represents the organisational majority and has enough MLA support to establish its claim.
Term of the national working committee
Mamata-led faction
The faction says the last internal election was held in 2022 and gave the chairperson and national working committee five-year terms.
Ritabrata-led rebel faction
The faction cites Article 20 of the party constitution, saying the committee must be reconstituted every three years and that its term ended on February 11, 2025.
Use of the party symbol
Mamata-led faction
The faction says it can use the “Flowers and Grass” symbol unless the Election Commission bars it or rules that Mamata Banerjee is no longer chairperson.
Ritabrata-led rebel faction
The faction has also claimed the party name and symbol and wants the Commission to decide before nominations close.
- Election symbol
- The disputed Trinamool Congress symbol is described as “Flowers and Grass.”
- Bypoll constituencies
- Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly seats in West Bengal
- Bypoll date
- October 6
- Results date
- October 9
- Nomination deadline
- September 16
- Frozen accounts
- Four Trinamool-linked bank accounts containing Rs 804 crore remain frozen pending a decision on which faction may operate them.
- Factions’ organisational claims
- The Mamata faction says its 2022 internal election established five-year terms, while the Ritabrata faction cites a three-year term that expired on February 11, 2025.
