The Election Commission has prohibited Trinamool Congress factions from utilizing the party's established name and its 'flowers and grass' symbol in the forthcoming West Bengal bypolls, compelling both the Mamata Banerjee-led group and a rebel faction to submit alternative names and symbols. While the main TMC faction has formally protested the decision, the rebel group has expressed satisfaction, believing this interim ruling will ultimately aid their claim to the original party identity and electoral symbol. This directive necessitates a temporary rebranding for the involved TMC groups as they navigate the electoral landscape under new designations.

The Election Commission has prohibited Trinamool Congress factions from utilizing the party's established name and its 'flowers and grass' symbol in the forthcoming West Bengal bypolls, compelling both the Mamata Banerjee-led group and a rebel faction to submit alternative names and symbols. While the main TMC faction has formally protested the decision, the rebel group has expressed satisfaction, believing this interim ruling will ultimately aid their claim to the original party identity and electoral symbol. This directive necessitates a temporary rebranding for the involved TMC groups as they navigate the electoral landscape under new designations.

The Election Commission has prohibited Trinamool Congress factions from utilizing the party's established name and its 'flowers and grass' symbol in the forthcoming West Bengal bypolls, compelling both the Mamata Banerjee-led group and a rebel faction to submit alternative names and symbols. While the main TMC faction has formally protested the decision, the rebel group has expressed satisfaction, believing this interim ruling will ultimately aid their claim to the original party identity and electoral symbol. This directive necessitates a temporary rebranding for the involved TMC groups as they navigate the electoral landscape under new designations.

Following the Election Commission's directive banning Trinamool Congress factions from using the party name and its "flowers and grass" (joraphool) symbol for the upcoming West Bengal bypolls, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC submitted its choices of new names and symbols to the poll panel.

The email was sent to the ECI at 11:36 pm on Thursday, with “strongest protest". The poll body asked them to submit their preferred names and symbols by Friday morning.

The EC said the proposed name could be similar to All India Trinamool Congress, and the symbol must be chosen from the list of free or available symbols notified for independents and registered unrecognised political parties.

According to local media reports, the EC website shows 184 empty symbols, including AC, CCTV, binoculars, computer, bucket, carrot, cauliflower, cake and earrings. It is unclear what Mamata chose as the name and symbol for her party.

Meanwhile, the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction has also submitted three alternative names and symbols. The faction held a Zoom meeting on Friday morning in this regard, and the decision was conveyed to the EC.

According to sources, the faction has decided to keep the word 'Trinamool' in their proposed name. The first alternative name is Nationalist Trinamool Congress, while the second is 'Ritabrata-Trinamool. The third is reportedly 'Democratic Trinamool Congress'.

Rebels pleased with the decision

The Election Commission's decision has reportedly pleased the rebel faction, as it deprives Mamata of her trademark symbol

While the Mamata Banerjee-led camp on Thursday termed the Election Commission's interim order as "against the law", the rebel faction welcomed the decision. "This order is against the law. We are not accepting it because it has many legal flaws. The order does not include facts. But sometimes you have to accept things that are not in accordance with the rules, regulations, and law for a while. We will give our response and let you know by 11 am tomorrow," he said.

Trinamool MLA Akhruzzaman Ansari, who is part of the rebel faction, said his camp would abide by the Election Commission's interim order. He expressed confidence that the rebel faction would eventually get the party's "original" name and election symbol.

"We accept the order of the Election Commission. Obviously, we wanted the 'joraphool ’. But the Commission has given an interim order for now. We are confident that when the Election Commission gives its final decision, we will get the official and original name and election symbol of the party," he added.

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