Kolkata: The Election Commission of India has issued an interim order freezing the “Flowers and Grass” symbol and the party name of the All India Trinamool Congress, barring two warring factions from utilizing them in the upcoming West Bengal assembly byelections. The directive places the faction led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the rival group fronted by Ritabrata Banerjee on temporary hold as both continue to claim legitimate control over the party.
The poll authority instructed both sides to submit three alternative group names alongside three choices from the available list of free symbols by Friday morning. Under this interim framework, the commission will assign each faction a temporary name and symbol to enable their candidates to contest the scheduled byelections in the Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies while the broader leadership dispute remains under formal review.
The decision was delivered by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alongside Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and S.S. Sandhu following hearings with representatives from both delegations. The poll watchdog stated that an interim freeze was imperative because the byelection process is already underway, leaving inadequate time to conduct the detailed quasi-judicial proceedings required under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols Order of 1968.
Under the order, neither the petitioner group led by Arup Roy nor the respondent camp headed by Mamata Banerjee is permitted to use the name “All India Trinamool Congress” simpliciter. The commission noted that both factions may choose alternative designations that reflect a linkage to the parent organisation if they wish, ensuring both sides operate on an even footing during the voting period.
Ahead of the ruling, Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee maintained that the Mamata Banerjee-led group constitutes the authentic party organisation and confirmed the submission of supporting records to the panel. Ritabrata Banerjee declined to detail the internal discussions but affirmed full reliance on the poll commission’s final quasi-judicial determination.
