Mamata Banerjee loses both party name and symbol

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has lost both her party's name and symbol. On Friday, September 18, a day after India's Election Commission suspended the name of the All India Trinamool Congress and its traditional 'flower and grass' symbol, the commission allotted separate interim names and election symbols to the party's two rival factions. As a result, the political identity associated with Trinamool Congress for nearly three decades has been temporarily dropped from the ballot for West Bengal's October 6 by-election.

The faction led by Mamata Banerjee has been given the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and the 'footballer' symbol. On the other hand, the commission has allotted the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and the 'plough' symbol to the rebel faction.

The Election Commission specified that these symbols are temporary and applicable only for the upcoming by-election, as the dispute over control of the opposition party in West Bengal continues. The commission said the matter needs to be settled under existing law.

After the party's defeat in the May assembly elections, a rebellion began within Trinamool Congress's legislative party under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee, which later spread to parliament and eventually extended to the party's name and symbol. The commission's interim order came in this context. Both groups were instructed to submit three preferred names and three free symbols by 11am on Friday. The commission subsequently allotted these interim identities for the by-election.

The Trinamool camp led by Mamata strongly reacted to the Election Commission's order suspending the party's name and symbol, calling it "illegal" and "contrary to law". TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee rejected the order, saying, "We do not accept it." He said the order has many legal weaknesses and does not accurately present information. However, he also acknowledged that the measure may have to be accepted temporarily.

On the other hand, the rival faction welcomed the Election Commission's suspension order, although they had wanted the 'flower and grass' symbol itself. Akhruzzaman Ansari, leader of the rival faction and chief whip of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and TMC MLA, said, "We accept the EC's order." He said, "Of course, we wanted the old symbol." However, he expressed hope that after the final verdict, their side would get the party's "official and real name and symbol". For now, the rebel faction will contest the by-election under the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and the 'plough' symbol.

After the defeat in the assembly elections, a power struggle began within the party's organisational and legislative framework. In June, 59 rebel MLAs elected expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition instead of the candidate nominated by Mamata's camp and secured the Speaker's recognition. This is the first split in the party's 28-year history.

It may be mentioned that after breaking away from the Congress in 1998, the 'flower and grass' symbol of the faction led by Mamata Banerjee was at the centre of Trinamool's political journey. Over the past 28 years, as Trinamool became a major political force in West Bengal, the symbol became a powerful expression of the party's grassroots identity and featured prominently on ballot papers, flags and campaign materials.

Source: India Today, The Indian Express, NDTV