Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Bengal BJP Minister Attacks TMC Amid Election Commission Dispute
Two groups are arguing about who should control the Trinamool Congress.
They both want to use the party’s name and election symbol.
The Election Commission is listening to both sides.
The Mamata Banerjee-led group appeared with five representatives.
The Ritabrata Banerjee-led group also presented documents.
The commission asked that group for more papers.
BJP leader Dilip Ghosh criticized the TMC and said he wanted it to disappear.
The commission will consider the competing claims before deciding who can use the party identity.
BJP leader and Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh said he hoped the Trinamool Congress would “disappear forever.”
The Election Commission is hearing rival claims over the TMC’s name and electoral symbol.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction appeared before the full commission with a five-member delegation.
The Ritabrata Banerjee-led group made oral submissions and was asked to provide additional documents.
The dispute concerns which faction represents the “real” TMC and can legally use its name and symbol.
- Who
- The Mamata Banerjee-led and Ritabrata Banerjee-led factions of the Trinamool Congress are contesting the party’s identity; BJP leader Dilip Ghosh criticized the TMC.
- What
- The Election Commission is hearing rival claims over the TMC’s name and electoral symbol.
- When
- The hearing and submissions took place on Saturday.
- Where
- Before the Election Commission; the dispute concerns the party’s organization in West Bengal.
- Why
- The factions are seeking recognition as the legitimate TMC and the right to use its name and electoral symbol.
Mamata Banerjee-led group
Ritabrata Banerjee-led group
Claim to party identity
Mamata Banerjee-led group
The group appeared before the full Election Commission to represent its claim to the Trinamool Congress’s organizational identity and symbol.
Ritabrata Banerjee-led group
The group made oral submissions and supplied documents to support its competing claim; the commission requested additional papers.
Political criticism
Mamata Banerjee-led group
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction is associated in the article with the established TMC organization built around Mamata Banerjee.
Ritabrata Banerjee-led group
The rival claim has brought into question who represents the “real” TMC and which faction can legally claim its legacy, name and symbol.
- Political party
- Trinamool Congress (TMC)
- Main dispute
- Control of the party’s name and electoral symbol
- Mamata Banerjee-led delegation
- Derek O'Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Sagarika Ghose, Saket Gokhale and advocate Abhinav Singh
- Ritabrata Banerjee-led group
- Made oral submissions and presented documents
- Election Commission action
- Requested additional documents from the Ritabrata Banerjee-led group
- Dilip Ghosh’s statement
- He said he hoped neither faction would receive the symbol and that the party would disappear forever
- Comparable dispute
- The article compared the case with the Shiv Sena split in Maharashtra