TMC Vs TMC: EC Bars Mamata, Ritabrata Factions From Using Party Name, Symbol Ahead Of Bypolls

17 Sep 2026, 16:56 by Ankit Gupta · abp Live

EC freezes TMC’s name and symbol ahead of Bengal bypolls, barring both Mamata and Ritabrata factions from using them.

Written By : Ankit Gupta | Updated at : 17 Sep 2026 11:35 PM (IST)

EC order forces TMC camps to contest bypolls under separate names and symbols as the TMC row goes.
Source : ABP Live

The Election Commission has frozen the Trinamool Congress’ party name and ‘Flowers & Grass’ election symbol for the West Bengal Assembly bypolls, barring both the Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee factions from using them. The poll panel has asked both camps to submit three choices each for a new party name and symbol by 11 am on Friday. The move comes amid a continuing dispute over control of the party ahead of the October 6 bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar.

EC Freezes Name, Symbol

The Election Commission said both factions must submit their names and free symbols by 11 am on Friday. The panel will consider the options and allot separate symbols to the two groups from its list of free symbols.

The decision follows hearings held by the EC on Thursday, September 17, when representatives of both factions presented their positions on the party’s name, organisation and election symbol.

The Mamata Banerjee-led camp had opposed any interim order, arguing that there was no basis for such a direction. The Ritabrata-led faction had sought an early decision from the poll panel because candidates from both groups had already filed nominations for the bypolls.

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What Ritabrata Said

Ritabrata Banerjee, along with Chandrima Bhattacharya, Akrul Zaman, Arup Roy and a lawyer, appeared before the Commission and presented the faction’s case. After the hearing, Ritabrata said his group had put forward its position and answered the questions asked by the Commission.

He said the symbol issue had become important because bypolls are due in Nandigram and Rejinagar and both factions have fielded candidates.

Mamata Camp Objects

The Mamata faction was represented before the Commission by Derek O’Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Mahua Moitra and Sagarika Ghose.

The group opposed any interim order during its meeting with the poll panel. Kalyan Banerjee said the faction had argued that no interim direction should be issued.

With the EC’s latest order, both camps will now have to contest the bypolls under separate names and symbols, while the dispute over control of the TMC continues.

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Published at : 17 Sep 2026 10:26 PM (IST)
Tags :
Mamata Banerjee Mamata Banerjee Bengal Bypolls WEst Bengal Ritabrata

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