New Delhi: Major news has emerged regarding West Bengal politics. Following a split within the Trinamool Congress, the Election Commission has approved a new name for the faction led by CM Mamata Banerjee. The Mamata Banerjee faction had proposed three options; based on this, the Election Commission has assigned the name “All India Trinamool Mamata Congress” to the group.
Their designated election symbol will be a “football player.” Meanwhile, the rebel faction led by Ritabrata has been allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “envelope” election symbol. The Ritabrata faction had submitted two name options to the Commission. Earlier, following a hearing on the dispute on Thursday, the Election Commission had frozen the original TMC name and election symbol.
‘Two-flower’ symbol frozen just a day earlier.
Following the dispute, the Election Commission had thoroughly examined the claims made by both TMC factions. About a week prior, the Commission had asked both the Mamata Banerjee faction and Ritabrata Banerjee to submit documents supporting their respective claims. Ritabrata Banerjee had argued that, according to the TMC constitution, Mamata Banerjee’s tenure as party president had already expired.
A meeting of the new executive committee subsequently elected Arup Roy as president. In contrast, the Mamata Banerjee faction maintained that, under the party’s constitution, Mamata Banerjee remains the party president and holds the sole authority to appoint the new executive committee and office-bearers.
The Election Commission has reserved its decision on the symbol dispute ahead of the by-elections scheduled for October 6 in the Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies. On Thursday, the Commission had frozen the “All India Trinamool Congress” name and the “two flowers with leaves” election symbol.
Strict instructions issued by the Election Commission
The Election Commission of India has issued directives to the Returning Officers for the Rejinagar (70) and Nandigram (210) Assembly seats in West Bengal and the Nagaon (9) Lok Sabha seat in Assam, instructing them to strictly comply with this order. The Election Commission had indicated that the proposed name might bear a resemblance to ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ and that the election symbol should be selected from the list of free or available symbols notified for independent candidates and registered unrecognised political parties. By-elections in Samserganj and Nandigram are scheduled for October 6.
An order issued by Commission Secretary Ashwani Kumar Mohal states that the validity of nomination papers during scrutiny will be examined strictly under Section 36 of the Representation of the People Act. The Trinamool Congress witnessed a significant split following the West Bengal Assembly elections, after which a dissident faction began attempting to assert control; meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has continued to demonstrate her hold over the TMC.
