Delhi: The Election Commission has issued its interim order on the ongoing symbol dispute in TMC before the by-elections on two seats in Bengal. The Commission has frozen the name and election symbol of Trinamool Congress (TMC). The Election Commission has recognized two rival factions in the Trinamool Congress, one of which is led by Mamata Banerjee and the other by Arup Roy. The Commission will take a final decision on this dispute under Para 15. Till the final decision, no party will be able to use the name “All India Trinamool Congress” or the “flowers and grass” election symbol in the ongoing by-elections.
Both factions will have to submit three preferred names and three free-symbol options by 11 am on September 18 for allocation by the Commission. The Election Commission, in an interim order, has barred both the factions of TMC from using the party’s election symbol and name in the West Bengal Assembly by-elections. The Commission has asked both the factions of Trinamool to choose one of the symbols and some other name of the party from the election symbols suggested by the Commission for the West Bengal Assembly by-election.
What are the interim orders for by-elections?
The Election Commission, in line with tradition in past cases, has ordered that pending a final decision:
No group will be able to use the name “All India Trinamool Congress”.
No group will be able to use the reserved election symbol “Flowers & Grass”.
Both the groups should choose a new name for themselves, if they wish, they can add the link of “All India Trinamool Congress” to their name (like – TMC (Mamata) / TMC (Arup Roy)). Both the groups will be given separate new election symbols from the list of free symbols of the Election Commission, for this by-election.
Both factions will have to give the Commission a choice of 3 names for their faction by 11:00 am on 18 September 2026 – in the order of preference, one of which will be approved by the Commission. The Election Commission’s decision comes ahead of the assembly by-elections to be held on October 6 in Nandigram and Rejinagar, where both the factions were preparing to contest under the Trinamool Congress identity.