A severe political tussle has gripped the Trinamool Congress ahead of the upcoming West Bengal bypolls, with two rival factions fighting fiercely over the party name and its core election symbol. The matter has officially reached the Election Commission, which is scheduled to hold a crucial meeting today to deliver a final verdict. This anticipated decision could finally settle the bitter dispute before candidates head to file nominations for the Nandiganj and Resiganj by-elections.
Both factions within the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal are gearing up to contest the upcoming bypolls and are actively attempting to field candidates on October 6 for the Nandiganj and Resiganj seats using the official party name and symbol. However, with no amicable resolution in sight, speculations are rife that neither faction might be permitted to contest under the established Trinamool Congress banner and its traditional twin flowers symbol in such a compressed timeframe.
The deadline to submit nomination papers was Wednesday, prompting the Election Commission to issue a directive to both factions earlier that day, instructing them to furnish additional documents by 3 PM. As neither camp was willing to step back from claiming the primary party identity and symbol, the deadlock forced the matter directly onto the Commission table. A formal meeting has now been convened today to address the standoff.
Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi noted that resolving such intricate disputes typically demands considerable time, as persuading both opposing sides instantly is rarely feasible, often requiring alternative administrative measures. The situation in West Bengal is particularly complicated due to the imminent arrival of the bypolls, circumstances in which the Commission routinely freezes the disputed party name and symbol to prevent either side from using them for nominations. Instead, the poll body often assigns temporary names and symbols to enable both rival groups to participate in the election.
The Commission has already gathered supplementary documents from both parties, and a fresh hearing involving both factions is expected to take place today, making a definitive ruling on the election symbol imperative. A final decision regarding the party name and symbol must be finalized by September 19, leaving both sides waiting anxiously while exerting intense pressure on the regulators for a swift resolution.
Last Saturday, a full bench of the Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar held extensive discussions with representatives of both factions in an effort to mediate a compromise. One faction is led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while the second is spearheaded by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, with both leaders presenting distinct claims over the party nomenclature, symbol, and organizational assets. During their submissions before the Commission, both camps urged authorities to settle the ownership of the name, symbol, and assets prior to the bypolls.
Meanwhile, the factional feud has spilled over directly into party offices, generating reports of aggressive takeovers across various locations. In Berhampore, leaders aligned with the Ritabrata faction reportedly took control of a local party office, where figures like Safiquzzaman Sheikh, Akhruzzaman, Firhad Hakim, Abu Taher Khan, and Apoorba Sarkar allegedly arrived to remove old banners and erect new ones. The newly installed banners featured portraits of Gandhi, Tagore, Ambedkar, and Kazi Nazrul alongside the disputed symbol, echoing similar takeover attempts reported earlier at the Kolkata headquarters.
Amidst the administrative and physical confrontations, candidate selections for the upcoming polls are moving forward, with the Mamata faction having named Rabiul Alam Chowdhury for Resiganj and Sanchita De Pradhan for Nandiganj. Conversely, the Ritabrata faction is scheduled to meet the Commission today as part of a five-member delegation comprising Arup Roy, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Akhruzzaman, Aman Jha, and Ritabrata Banerjee.
