Election Commission directs TMC's Mamata Banerjee, Ritabrata factions to pick new names, symbols ahead of bypolls
The Election Commission has barred the use of the Trinamool Congress's 'two flowers & grass' election symbol and name. Both factions of the TMC have been asked to select new symbols and names. The Commission has directed both factions to submit their three preferred names and symbols by Friday morning.
EC said that, pending a final determination on the matter, neither the faction led by Mamata Banerjee nor the group led by Ritabrata Banerjee will be allowed to use the party name or the reserved symbol as an interim measure for the upcoming by-elections.
Earlier today, the Commission had summoned representatives from both factions to Delhi for a meeting. By-elections for the Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly seats in West Bengal are scheduled for October 6. Both factions had fielded candidates using the same symbol.
From the rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, Mohammad Eteshamul Haque will contest from Nandigram, and Safiuddin Sheikh from Rejinagar. Meanwhile, former CM Mamata Banerjee's TMC had announced Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) as its candidate for Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury for Rejinagar on Sunday.
Nandigram: A crucial seat for both TMC and BJP
Nandigram has long been a focal point of the political struggle between the TMC and the BJP. The anti-land acquisition movement of 2007 in this region played a pivotal role in propelling Mamata Banerjee and the TMC to power in 2011.
In 2021, Mamata contested the election from here against Suvendu Adhikari—now a prominent figure in Bengal politics—but lost. After joining the BJP, Adhikari has emerged as the TMC's biggest rival.
In the 2021 assembly elections, Suvendu Adhikari contested from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, winning in both constituencies. In Bhabanipur, he defeated Mamata Banerjee by a margin of 15,105 votes; Adhikari secured 73,917 votes, while Mamata Banerjee received 58,812 votes.
Later, Adhikari retained the Bhabanipur seat and resigned from the Nandigram seat, leading to the vacancy in Nandigram.