The Election Commission issued its order allotting new names and symbols to the two rival factions involved in the Trinamool Congress dispute, after freezing the original party name and its ‘Flowers and Grass’
symbol. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted the name ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’, along with a football player symbol, according to the Election Commission’s order.
The rival faction associated with Ritabrata Banerjee was allotted the name ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’, with an envelope as its election symbol, according to the details communicated by the poll panel. The Election Commission’s order has been issued to both factions, formally communicating the separate names and symbols under which they will contest the upcoming bypolls.
The development comes a day after the poll panel froze the existing ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ name and the party’s ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol amid the dispute over which faction represents the recognised political party. The interim decision means the two rival groups will not contest the upcoming bypolls using the original TMC name and symbol.
What Names And Symbols Have The Two TMC Factions Got?
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction has been allotted the name ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ and the football player symbol. The faction associated with Ritabrata Banerjee has been allotted the name ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ and the envelope symbol. The Election Commission has communicated the respective names and symbols to both groups following its interim order on the party dispute.
The Election Commission had earlier said that the existing AITC name and ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol would remain frozen pending a substantive determination of which faction is entitled to represent the recognised political party. The dispute centres on competing claims over the organisational control of the party, including the validity of its National Working Committee and the appointment of office-bearers.
The poll panel had directed both factions to choose alternative names and symbols from the list of free symbols for the upcoming bypolls.
