Election Commission set to rule on TMC symbol in bypoll feud

The Election Commission is likely to issue an interim order on the Trinamool Congress' "two flowers on grass top" election symbol on Thursday, after rival factions of the party fielded candidates on the same symbol for the October 6 Assembly bypolls.

The poll body is scheduled to meet on Thursday, and both TMC factions have been asked to remain present, Election Commission functionaries said. The move comes as the authorities prepare to scrutinise nomination papers for the bypolls.

The Election Commission has so far not made a formal declaration accepting a dispute in the TMC. A functionary said the party symbol could be allotted to one faction or withheld from both, adding that the Commission may also consider other options.

The rival camps led by former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee have fielded competing candidates for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly seats, with both using the official party symbol. Wednesday was the deadline for both factions to submit documents in support of their claims. It was also the last day for filing nomination papers for the bypolls.

Functionaries said the nomination papers will be scrutinised on Thursday, when the poll authority is likely to take an ad hoc decision in view of the bypolls. The Commission is hearing rival claims over control of the TMC, including the validity of its existing organisational structure and authorised signatories, ahead of the polls.

The dispute dates back to June 22, when West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee convened a meeting of rebel leaders and announced the formation of a new National Working Committee, with Arup Roy elected as its chairperson.

Ritabrata Banerjee had said the party was facing a "constitutional crisis", arguing that Article 20 of the TMC Constitution required the National Working Committee to be constituted every three years. He said the previous committee, formed in February 2022, had completed its tenure in February 2025 and had not been renewed.

The Mamata Banerjee-led faction has maintained that the rival group was relying on an outdated provision and ignoring later amendments to the party constitution. It has also challenged the rival faction's claim on the party's composition, saying public notices were issued during the organisational election process and all MPs and MLAs were made members of the AITC.

The party further said the June 22 meeting could not amount to a valid organisational exercise because the prescribed multi-tier process for forming the party's organisational committees was not followed. The Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction, however, has said its June 22 meeting was held in accordance with the party constitution and that the Election Commission would decide which side was legitimate.

With both factions staking claim to the TMC and its election symbol, the Election Commission is now expected to take an interim call before the bypoll process moves ahead.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 16, 2026 19:29 IST