The Mamata Banerjee-led faction has sent alternative name and symbol choices to the Election Commission after the Trinamool Congress identity was frozen for the October 6 bypolls. The move comes amid a deepening split in the party after its Assembly poll setback and subsequent defections.

Election Commission bars Trinamool factions from using party name and symbol in byelections, drawing criticism from Congress.

As ECI meets with delegations from factions of Trinamool Congress, speculation is rife that ECI may as well decide on who gets party name.

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

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday ordered the freezing of the “name” and “symbol” of the Trinamool Congress as a political party for the time being, affecting both factions of the party.