The Congress has criticised the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) interim decision to bar rival factions of the Trinamool Congress from using the party’s name and reserved election symbol in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly bypolls. Congress General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP K.C. Venugopal described the decision as unjust and alleged political interference.
What did the ECI decide?
The Election Commission has issued an interim order amid a dispute between the Mamata Banerjee-led faction and the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction over control of the Trinamool Congress, its organisational structure, name and election symbol.
Pending a final decision, neither faction will be allowed to use the name ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ or the reserved ‘Flowers & Grass’ symbol.
Both factions asked to choose new identities
For the upcoming West Bengal bypolls, the two factions have been directed to contest under separate names and symbols.
Each group has been asked to submit three preferred names and three free-symbol choices to the ECI by 11 am on September 18. The Commission will then approve one name and allot one symbol to each faction.
Bypolls scheduled for October 6
The interim order applies to the upcoming Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
Polling is scheduled for October 6, with counting and results scheduled for October 9.
The ECI said the interim arrangement was intended to place both rival groups on an “even keel” and protect their rights and interests until the dispute is finally determined.
Congress reaction
Congress leader K.C. Venugopal strongly criticised the Election Commission’s decision. Congress media department head and Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera also described the freezing of the AITC symbol as an “injustice”.
Venugopal alleged that the decision reflected BJP influence over the poll panel. These are political allegations made by Congress leaders; the ECI's stated rationale was to maintain an interim arrangement between the rival factions pending a final determination.
Background to the TMC dispute
The dispute centres on competing claims over the organisational control of the Trinamool Congress. The Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction has challenged the existing organisational structure, while the Mamata Banerjee faction has rejected the rival group’s claims.
Both sides have presented their respective arguments and documents before the Election Commission.
Final decision is still pending
The ECI’s latest order is interim. The Commission has not yet issued a final determination on which faction is entitled to use the TMC name and reserved election symbol.
