After the historic breakdown in the organizational structure of Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, the fight over the party's name and election symbol has now reached the doorstep of the country's biggest court (Supreme Court). Mamata Banerjee has challenged in the Supreme Court the interim order by the Election Commission of India (ECI) freezing the party's original name 'All India Trinamool Congress' (AITC) and its traditional election symbol 'Flowers and Grass' with immediate effect. Mamata Banerjee has termed this step of the Election Commission as hasty, arbitrary and an attack on democratic rights. He has said in his petition that the identity of the original party which he had established with blood and sweat nearly three decades ago (in 1998) cannot be snatched away or frozen in one stroke on the basis of fake claims of any rebel group. Why did the Election Commission take this decision before the by-elections of October 6? By-elections are to be held in two very important assembly seats of West Bengal—Nandigram and Rejinagar—on 6 October 2026. Face-off between two factions: After the internal rebellion in the party, the organization was divided into two clear factions—one faction is led by Mamata Banerjee herself, while the other rebel faction is led by the Arup Roy/Ritabrata Banerjee camp. Both claimed to be the real TMC: Both the groups filed petitions before the Election Commission calling themselves the 'real Trinamool Congress' and staked claim to contest the by-elections on the official symbol 'Joda Phool'. Interim arrangement of the Commission (Symbols Order 1968, para 15): The Election Commission clarified that there was not enough time between the last date of filing nominations to conduct a detailed legal investigation (substantive determination) of the party organisation, the strength of MPs, MLAs and office bearers. To keep both parties on an equal footing, the Commission temporarily sealed (froze) the main symbol and name. Both factions got new names and election symbols The Election Commission has allotted different interim names and free symbols to both the factions in view of the by-elections: Camp / Faction New name given by the Election Commission New election symbol allotted Mamata Banerjee faction Mamata All India Trinamool Congress (MAITC) Football Player Rebel faction (Arup Roy / Ritabrata) Democratic Trinamool Congress (DTMC) Envelope: Mamata Banerjee raised 3 big legal questions: 'Black day of democracy' While reacting sharply to the Election Commission's decision, Mamata Banerjee called it a black day for Indian democracy. "black day" (Black Day) and made serious allegations in the legal petition: Ignoring the rights of the founder: It has been argued in the petition that the party was established and registered under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, hence freezing the original symbol only on the complaint of some disgruntled leaders without proving any solid legislative majority is a violation of the principles of natural justice. Allegation of political pressure: Mamata alleged that this action has been taken deliberately at the behest of the ruling party at the Center to weaken her party and create confusion in the by-elections. Example of Shiv Sena and LJP dispute: The Election Commission had earlier frozen the original symbol in the initial phase during the LJP (Chirag vs Pashupati) dispute in 2021 and Shiv Sena (Uddhav vs Shinde) dispute in 2022. Mamta camp demands that the Supreme Court should immediately stay this interim order and allow them to fight on the original name-symbol. Amidst the Nandigram by-election and the freezing of the new chessboard symbol of the opposition alliance and the increasing legal trouble, Mamata Banerjee has made a big political bet on the Nandigram seat. He has announced that in order to defeat BJP and strengthen the 'India' block, his faction will withdraw its candidate from Nandigram seat and support the Congress candidate. Now all eyes are on the top court of the country whether the Supreme Court intervenes in the interim freeze order of the Election Commission and gives relief to Mamata Banerjee or in this election riot of West Bengal, instead of 'Joda Phool', there will be a direct contest between 'Football Player' and 'Envelope'.
