Nandigram/Behrampore/Kolkata: Election Commission (EC) has called the two Trinamool Congress factions for a hearing on Thursday. This is the third EC date for the rival blocs since the dispute over ownership of the party’s name, symbol and assets reached the poll body on July 6.The deadline for submitting additional documents ended at 3 pm on Wednesday, coinciding with the deadline to file nominations for the Oct 6 Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls. Both camps have fielded candidates using the Trinamool twin-flower symbol.While EC’s ruling must arrive before the date of scrutiny ends on Sept 19, sources indicated a decision could come earlier, potentially as soon as Thursday.Both factions have submitted the additional documents, as sought by the poll panel.The Ritabrata Banerjee camp produced a July 2026 Alipore court ex parte interim injunction regarding control over TMC party offices, bank accounts and assets. “While passing the order, the court considered the Ritabrata faction’s claim that the constitutional tenure of the Trinamool national working committee, constituted in Feb 2022, was explicitly limited to three years under the party constitution and had expired in Feb 2025. The Commission may consider the order before passing an interim arrangement,” a senior official said.However, the Mamata Banerjee camp refutes the claim. A top TMC office-bearer said, “The constitution of the TMC is unambiguous. Organisational elections are to be held every five years. The same has been happening for nearly two decades in five-year cycles. The party constitution (2010-11) document, which is available on the official EC website under Rule 9 (A), shows that. Even the latest constitution submitted by the TMC in March 2026 reiterates that organisational elections are to be held every five years.”A section of officials, however, apprehends that EC may refrain from passing an interim order and instead leave the matter to the returning officers. “In such a scenario, the ROs are expected to ask both factions to contest the bypolls without using the Trinamool Congress name or official symbol. They may be allotted free symbols and treated as Independents,” an official said.On Wednesday, Mamata-camp Nandigram candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey arrived at the SDO office holding an official authorisation letter from Mamata, accompanied by former minister Akhil Giri. “I have filed my nomination as the official TMC candidate. Every fight in life and politics is tough, but I am entirely confident of a victory,” Dey told reporters after exiting the venue.Dismissing any psychological pressure regarding contesting a seat previously held by CM Suvendu Adhikari, Dey said, “He is human just like anyone else.”Meanwhile, the Ritabrata-camp candidate, Ehteshamul Haque, filed his nomination with Kamarhati MLA Madan Mitra by his side. Mitra asserted, “Since 2014, people have equated the twin-flowers symbol with Mamata Banerjee. However, our fight is strictly against family rule within the TMC. This nomination has been filed legally, carrying authorisation signed by our chairman Arup Biswas.”BJP Rejinagar candidate Shankharavh Sarkar left his residence after worshipping his family Shiv-Durga deities and seeking blessings from his mother. Bengal minister Gouri Shankar Ghosh, Behrampore MLA Subrata Moitra, Burwan MLA Sukhen Bagdi, Nabagram MLA Dilip Saha and BJP state secretary Samik Bhattacharya were present to support him.Bhattacharya said, “We do not believe in division between minority and majority; we do not look at who is in our favour or who is our opponent. Our BJP-run govt has already completed three months — have you seen any communal disturbances or riots?”Murshidabad MP Abu Taher Khan and former minister Firhad Hakim were present during the nomination filing of Ritabrata-camp candidate Safiuzzaman Saikh.
