Election Commission Freezes Trinamool Congress Name and Symbol as Factions Vie for Control

The Election Commission of India (EC) issued an interim order on September 18 2026 barring both rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) from using the party’s registered name and its “Flowers & Grass” election symbol in the West Bengal Assembly by-polls scheduled for October 6 in Nandigram and Rejinagar, with counting on October 9.

CNN-News18

The AITC was founded on January 1 1998 when Mamata Banerjee split from the Indian National Congress. After the party’s defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, internal dissent erupted. On June 3, roughly 60 of the party’s 80 MLAs revolted and elected Arup Roy as chairperson in a special session on June 22. The rebel camp, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, claims the national working committee’s mandate expired on February 11 2025. Mamata Banerjee’s camp counters that the party constitution filed with the EC on March 9 establishes a five-year tenure for office-bearers, extending her committee’s term through 2027.

The Indian ExpressANI NewsCNN-News18Hindustan Times'BJP and EC join forces to split party': Rahul Gandhi slams EC over TMC name, symbol freeze The Indian ExpressCNN-News18

• June 3 2026 – 60 of 80 TMC MLAs revolt.

CNN-News18

• June 22 2026 – Arup Roy elected chairperson by rebel faction.

The Indian Express

• September 17 2026 – EC hearing with delegations from both factions.

The Indian Express

• September 18 2026 – EC issues interim freeze; both sides asked to submit three alternative names and three free symbols by 11 a.m. the same day.

CNN-News18

• October 6 2026 – West Bengal by-polls in Nandigram and Rejinagar.

CNN-News18

• October 9 2026 – Counting of by-poll votes.

The Indian Express

• Approx. 60 of 80 TMC MLAs joined the rebel camp.

CNN-News18

• The rebel faction submitted three preferred names—*Nationalist Trinamool Congress*, *West Bengal Trinamool Congress*, *Democratic Trinamool Congress*—and three symbol choices—*Envelope*, *Battery Torch*, *Pencil Box*.

CNN-News18

• The EC’s interim arrangement will assign the “football player” symbol to the Mamata-led faction (*Mamata All India Trinamool Congress*) and the “envelope” symbol to the Arup Roy-led faction (*Democratic Trinamool Congress*).

CNN-News18

• The EC said the freeze is intended to place both groups on an “even keel” while a substantive determination proceeds under the 1968 Symbols Order.

The Indian Express

• Mamata Banerjee called the order “illegal” and “politically biased,” vowing not to surrender and announcing support for the Congress candidate in Nandigram.

CNN-News18

• BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi rebutted Gandhi’s allegation, urging him to examine Congress’s own history of party splits.

New Indian Express

• Trivedi’s remarks challenge Gandhi’s claim, positioning the BJP as upholding democratic values while accusing Congress of destabilizing rivals.

New Indian Express

• “First Shiv Sena, then NCP, and now Trinamool Congress. Every time, the same pattern—BJP and the Election Commission join forces to split a party. Then its election symbol is snatched away,” — Rahul Gandhi, Congress chairperson

The Indian Express

• “Before levelling allegations against the BJP, Rahul Gandhi should first look at the history of his own party.” — Sudhanshu Trivedi, BJP national spokesperson

New Indian Express

Sources differ on the exact number of rebel legislators, describing the revolt as “approximately 60” versus “around 60” of the 80 MLAs. No source provides a definitive count of party office-bearers supporting each faction, leaving the internal composition of the competing camps partially unclear.

The Indian Express

The EC will approve distinct names and symbols for each faction before the October 6 by-polls. The final decision on which group retains the original AITC identity will be rendered after the by-polls, following a substantive determination under the 1968 Symbols Order. Both factions must contest the elections under their interim identifiers.

The Indian Express