Both Trinamool Congress factions — the faction led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the dissident faction led by expelled party legislator Ritabrata Banerjee — have submitted their respective choices of party names and symbols to the ECI by 11 am today.
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The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool submitted three choices each for the name and the symbol after Thursday night’s ECI order. On the other hand, the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction reportedly forwarded its choices on Friday morning.
According to sources, the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has finalised three symbols for consideration — Blackboard, Torch and Envelope. After a Zoom meeting with senior leader and assembly chief whip Akkrujamman and other leaders who are in New Delhi, three symbols and names were finalised and emailed to the ECI.
Regarding the party names, three names were shortlisted: Nationalist Trinamool Congress (Jatiotabadi Trinamool Congress), Democratic Trinamool Congress and West Bengal Trinamool Congress.
The Mamata-led Trinamool has suggested three names — Mamata All Indian Trinamool Congress, All India Trinamool Congress and Trinamool Mamata Congress.The deadline given by the Election Commission has ended. It is now past 11 am.
On Thursday night, the ECI announced the freezing of the name All India Trinamool Congress and the party symbol, grass-flowers, for the time being, which meant that neither of the two factions would be able to use that name and symbol in any election until the Commission takes a final decision in the matter.
With West Bengal bypolls scheduled for October 6 in the Nandigram assembly constituency in East Midnapore district and Rejinagar assembly constituency in Murshidabad district, the fate of the two parties hangs in limbo.
The ECI has a list of 184 free symbols. Any two among the 184 free symbols will now be allotted to the two factions of the Trinamool Congress.
Calling the ECI order unconstitutional, Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee told media persons that since the Commission’s order was unconstitutional, his faction was not accepting it but “will do whatever is required now”.
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“… We are not accepting this order. Just as illegal things have to be accepted temporarily, this too has to be accepted,” he said.
Kunal Ghosh, Trinamool spokesperson, said Mamata Banerjee is their symbol, movement and strength, and that Mamata Banerjee is ready with Plan A, B and C.
Ritabrata Banerjee, taking to X, wrote, “This narrative that was going on regarding the symbol and the name, the Election Commission’s interim order today proves that there is no room for dynastic politics. A political party is not a private limited company, nor can there be an heir to a political party. This has been proven today,” he said.
