With voting in Nandigram and Rejinagar on October 6, both sides must now fight under separate names and new election symbols. Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress faction will enter the coming West Bengal bypolls without the party’s familiar name and Flowers & Grass symbol after the Election Commission temporarily froze both. The rival camp faces the same restriction.
Why did the Election Commission freeze the Trinamool symbol?
Mamata Banerjee formed the Trinamool Congress in 1998 after leaving the Congress. The Flowers & Grass symbol became closely identified with the party during its rise in West Bengal and its victory over the Left Front in 2011. The EC has clarified that this arrangement is interim and applies only to the October 6 by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar. Earlier reporting noted: The Election Commission on Friday allotted separate names and electoral symbols to the rival factions of the Trinamool Congress, allowing the groups led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy to contest elections under new identities ahead of the October 6 Bengal bypolls. The votes will be counted on October 9.
The ECI said the temporary arrangement was meant to put the rival groups on an equal footing while it considers their competing claims. Both factions are barred from using the original party name “All India Trinamool Congress” and the reserved “Flowers & Grass” symbol until the leadership dispute is finally resolved under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. Earlier reporting noted: Football vs Envelope: Mamata Banerjee’s Party, Rebels Get New Name, Symbol Football vs Envelope: Mamata Banerjee’s Party, Rebels Get New Name, Symbol Football vs Envelope: Mamata Banerjee’s Party, Rebels Get New Name, Symbol Earlier reporting noted: The group led by Arup Roy has been allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol, while the faction led by Mamata Banerjee has been allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol. The group led by Arup Roy has been allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol, while the faction led by Mamata Banerjee has been allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol.
Both rival groups claim to represent the recognised All India Trinamool Congress. One camp is led by party founder and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while the rival group is associated with Ritabrata Banerjee and Arup Roy. With the dispute unresolved and two Assembly bypolls approaching, the Commission barred both sides from using the name All India Trinamool Congress and its reserved Flowers & Grass symbol until further orders. A political party is not a private limited company, nor can there be an heir to a political party.
The Election Commission issued its interim order on Thursday as the fight over the Trinamool Congress moved from party leadership to control of its electoral identity. “This narrative that was going on regarding the symbol and the name, the Election Commission’s interim order today, proves that there is no room for dynastic politics. This has been proven today,” he said.
