Kolkata, September 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday allotted new names and election symbols to the two rival factions of the Trinamool Congress, pending a final decision on the ownership of the party’s original name and its reserved “Flowers & Grass” symbol.
The faction led by Mamata Banerjee has been allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol. The ECI has recognised the faction as a political party in West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura.
The rival faction has been allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol, and has also been recognised as a political party in West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura.
The Commission’s interim arrangement follows its decision to bar both factions from using the original All India Trinamool Congress name and the “Flowers & Grass” symbol until the dispute over the party’s identity and symbol is finally decided.
The newly allotted identities will remain in force pending the ECI’s final determination. Both factions will contest the upcoming bypolls under their respective new names and symbols.
The arrangement will apply to the October 6 Assembly bypolls in Nandigram in East Midnapore district and Rejinagar in Murshidabad district. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction’s candidate in the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll in Assam will also contest under the “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” name and the “Football Player” symbol.
The Trinamool Congress was founded in 1998 after Mamata Banerjee’s split from the Congress. Since its formation, the party had contested elections under the All India Trinamool Congress name and the “Flowers & Grass” symbol.
The party came to power in West Bengal in 2011 and has remained the ruling party in the state since then.
With the ECI’s latest interim arrangement, candidates representing the two rival factions will appear on the ballot under separate party identities while the Commission continues its process to determine the claim over the original party name and symbol.
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