KOLKATA, 18 September (H.S.) : Putting an end to days of intense speculation following the freezing of the Trinamool Congress name and election symbol, the Election Commission finalized new designations and symbols for both rival factions on Friday afternoon. The Mamata Banerjee camp will now contest under the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' with the 'football player' as its official symbol. Meanwhile, the dissident faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has been named 'Democratic Trinamool Congress', with its candidates contesting on the 'envelope' symbol.

Political friction had been brewing within the Trinamool Congress since the recent change in state power, when a substantial faction of legislators revolted against Mamata Banerjee's leadership. Claiming to be the authentic voice of the party, Ritabrata's camp initiated a fierce legal and political tussle over the reserved 'twin flowers' symbol. The dispute peaked ahead of the upcoming October 6 Assembly by-elections in the Rejinagar and Nandigram constituencies.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the poll panel summoned both camps for discussions. Following two rounds of talks, the commission issued an interim order on Thursday freezing the traditional 'twin flowers' emblem and barring both sides from using the 'All India Trinamool Congress' moniker. Having invited three alternative name and symbol preferences from each group, the commission formally announced its decision on Friday, mandating that both factions must contest the upcoming by-elections under their newly assigned names and symbols.

The commission's directive triggered immediate political reactions. Without naming Mamata Banerjee or Abhishek Banerjee, Ritabrata Banerjee launched a sharp critique, stating, In a democracy, a king's son does not automatically become king. There is no concept of political inheritance here. This is not a private limited company.

Conversely, Serampore MP and senior Mamata camp leader Kalyan Banerjee dismissed the order as a temporary measure. Claiming that the traditional 'twin flowers' symbol can still be utilized outside the strict purview of the election process, he asserted that the dissident faction failed to achieve its underlying objectives through the commission's ruling.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh