The ECI is expected to meet only on September 17 to discuss the symbol dispute once Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar returns from Bhutan.
Both the Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata factions, locked in a battle for the twin-flower symbol ‘Jora Ghash Phool’, are contesting the October 6 bypolls, which will also be the first electoral test for both after the party split following the assembly elections that ousted the Trinamool from power after 15 years.
The ECI has faced similar issues over symbol disputes ahead of bypolls in the past, but has usually passed interim orders several days ahead of nomination filing deadlines, effectively freezing the disputed symbol and allotting temporary “free” symbols for bypoll purposes.
For instance, in 2022, the poll panel passed an interim order freezing the Shiv Sena’s ‘bow and arrow’ symbol amid a dispute between two factions. It did so on October 8, well before the final date for filing bypoll nominations on October 14.
Similarly, in 2021, amid a tussle between the Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Kumar Paras factions over the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) symbol ‘bungalow’, the ECI froze the symbol on October 3, days before bypoll nominations closed on October 8.
The current fight is similar, with the original Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool and the Ritabrata-led Trinamool Congress staking claim to being the “real” Trinamool. Both factions also met the ECI on September 12 and submitted their claims on the issue. However, confusion prevails as the ECI’s verdict is still awaited even as nominations close for the October 6 bypolls in Bengal’s Nandigram and Rejinagar.The two seats were vacated by incumbent chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and Humayun Kabir, respectively, as they retained the Bhabanipur and Nowda seats, which they had won concurrently.
The bypolls are now set to turn into a five-cornered fight, with the two Trinamool factions, BJP, Congress and CPI(M) – all fielding candidates.
Announcing its candidates for Nandigram and Rejinagar, the Ritabrata-led faction claimed that its main Opposition was the Mamata-led Trinamool. Ritabrata said it would contest under the official party name and symbol, though the ECI is yet to decide on the claims of the rival groups. Mohammad Eteshamul Haque will contest from Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district, while Safiuzzaman Sheikh has been nominated from Rejinagar in Murshidabad, Ritabrata said, adding, “We will draw a picture of the twin flowers on the wall as it is our symbol.”
Mamata Banerjee has also announced candidates for the seats, as have the CPI(M) and Congress.
