2 hrs ago
Election Commission Freezes TMC Name and Symbol Before Bypolls
The Trinamool Congress party has split into two groups.
One group is led by Mamata Banerjee, and the other is led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
Both groups say they represent the real party.
The Election Commission has temporarily stopped both groups from using the party’s name and election symbol.
This happened just before by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
Each group must choose a temporary name and symbol.
Mamata’s group disagreed with the decision and questioned Ritabrata’s claim.
Congress also criticized the Election Commission and said the decision could hurt democracy.
The Election Commission froze the Trinamool Congress name and symbol as an interim measure before October 6 Assembly bypolls.
The dispute involves factions led by party founder Mamata Banerjee and Opposition leader Ritabrata Banerjee.
Neither faction may use the name All India Trinamool Congress or the twin-flowers-on-grass symbol during the interim period.
Both groups must submit three possible names and three unused symbols before the Saturday nomination-withdrawal deadline.
Mamata Banerjee’s faction criticized the claim, while Congress accused the Election Commission of helping a BJP-backed effort.
- Who
- The Election Commission, the Mamata Banerjee faction of the Trinamool Congress, and the Ritabrata Banerjee faction.
- What
- The Election Commission temporarily froze the party’s name and election symbol while considering rival claims to control the party.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the Trinamool Congress and the bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
- When
- The decision was announced on Thursday, before the October 6 Assembly bypolls; both groups must submit alternatives by Friday at 11 a.m.
- Why
- The Commission said there was not enough time to complete the full party-dispute proceedings before the bypoll nomination-withdrawal deadline.
Mamata Banerjee Faction and Supporters
Ritabrata Banerjee Faction and Critics of the EC
Legitimacy of the rival faction
Mamata Banerjee Faction and Supporters
Mamata Banerjee’s representatives argued that Ritabrata Banerjee and his supporters had been elected on the party symbol issued by Mamata and had participated in party meetings, challenging their claim to represent the party.
Ritabrata Banerjee Faction and Critics of the EC
The Ritabrata Banerjee faction petitioned the Election Commission for changes to the party’s office-bearer list and separately claimed control of the party.
Reason for the dispute
Mamata Banerjee Faction and Supporters
Kalyan Banerjee said the dispute was initiated for malicious reasons after Ritabrata Banerjee was not selected as leader of the Opposition.
Ritabrata Banerjee Faction and Critics of the EC
The Ritabrata faction’s stated position, as described in the article, was that it sought recognition and changes to the party’s organizational records.
Assessment of the Election Commission decision
Mamata Banerjee Faction and Supporters
The Mamata faction opposed an interim order and argued that the matter should not proceed simultaneously through the Election Commission and a civil court.
Ritabrata Banerjee Faction and Critics of the EC
Congress general secretary K. Venugopal said freezing the name and symbol was an unconstitutional action that helped rebels and reflected alleged BJP influence over the Election Commission.
Key facts
- Interim decision
- The Election Commission froze the party name and symbol pending adjudication of the internal dispute.
- Affected name
- All India Trinamool Congress
- Affected symbol
- The twin-flowers-on-grass symbol
- Bypoll date
- October 6
- Bystpoll constituencies
- Nandigram and Rejinagar
- Alternative submissions
- Each faction must provide three names and three free symbols.
- Legal basis
- Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968.
Quotes
Kalyan Banerjee
Trinamool Congress MP and member of the Mamata-led delegation
“If there is an interim order from a civil court, you should approach the civil court and withdraw your claim. If you want the EC to decide, you cannot rely on the civil court's order. Both cannot go on simultaneously.”
telegraphindia.com
“Freezing the AITC name and symbol — after a blatantly unconstitutional hijack by the BJP — is CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s late night birthday gift to Modi ji.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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