ECI reserves TMC symbol amid dispute; asks Mamata, Ritabrata factions to pick new names, symbols ahead of bypolls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) reserved the Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) “Flowers & Grass” election symbol amid an ongoing dispute between rival factions of the party.

The poll body said that, pending a final determination on the matter, neither the faction led by Mamata Banerjee nor the group led by Ritabrata Banerjee will be allowed to use the party name or the reserved symbol as an interim measure for the upcoming by-elections.

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In an interim order released on Thursday, the ECI said the decision was aimed at placing both groups on an “even keel” and protecting their rights and interests. The order will remain in force until the final determination of the dispute, said the poll body.

The rival factions have been directed to submit three preferred names for their respective factions and three preferred free symbols to the Election Commission by 11 am on September 18, 2026. The EC will then approve one name and allot one symbol to each group.

Ritabrata leads the group of around 60 of the 80 newly elected TMC MLAs who left Mamata Banerjee faction after the party's defeat to the BJP in the state polls held in April.

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Both factions have staked a claim to being the “real” Trinamool Congress and had approached the national poll body seeking recognition as the party's legitimate leadership.

When are the assembly bypolls in Bengal?

EC announced on Monday that bypolls to Murshidabad district’s Rejinargar and East Midnapore’s Nandigram will be held on October 6 and the results would be announced on October 9. The nominations were filed between September 9 and 16.

Mamata faction wasn't in favour of interim order

Mamata faction was not in favour of an interim order on the recognition of the symbol and name by ECI, according to a PTI report.

The report said that EC separately heard both the factions over the dispute concerning the party's organisational control.

The rebel group, included Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal assembly Ritabrata Banerjee, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Akrul Zaman, Arup Roy and a lawyer, met the full bench of the commission and made its submissions.

The Mamata Banerjee camp, comprising Derek O'Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Mahua Moitra and Sagarika Ghose, subsequently appeared before the poll panel.

Before the order was releaed, Kalyan Banerjee, from Mamata faction, reportedly said the party has opposed any interim order, maintaining that there is no basis for such a direction.

"We have said no interim order should be passed. No order should be passed," he said.