The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has submitted alternative names and election symbols to the Election Commission following an interim order that prevents rival factions from using the All India Trinamool Congress name and its reserved Flowers and Grass symbol in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly bypolls.
The Election Commission issued the interim order on September 17 after hearing competing claims from two groups over control of the recognised political party. The order applies specifically to the bypolls scheduled in the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies on October 6.
Under the interim arrangement, neither faction has been permitted to use the name All India Trinamool Congress or the party's reserved Flowers and Grass election symbol for the current bypolls. Instead, the Commission directed both groups to submit three preferred names and three free election symbols in order of preference.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction submitted its response to the Commission late on Thursday night. According to reports citing sources, the party emailed its choices at 11.36 pm and submitted them while registering its strongest protest against the interim order.
The Election Commission said the interim measure was necessary because two rival groups were claiming to represent the All India Trinamool Congress. The Commission stated that the dispute requires a substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols Reservation and Allotment Order, 1968.
Paragraph 15 provides the framework for deciding disputes between rival groups claiming to represent a recognised political party. The Commission said the time available before the bypolls was not sufficient to complete the full proceedings and reach a final determination. Therefore, it introduced a temporary arrangement for the upcoming elections.
The Commission has also allowed the two factions to choose names that may retain a connection with the parent party. However, the election symbols have to be selected from the list of free symbols notified for the current bypolls.
The immediate impact of the order is that candidates backed by the rival factions will not contest the October 6 bypolls using the existing All India Trinamool Congress name and Flowers and Grass symbol unless the Commission changes its interim arrangement.
The dispute has emerged following an internal rebellion within the Trinamool Congress. According to reports, competing groups have challenged each other's claims over the party's organisational structure and leadership. Both sides have submitted documents and arguments before the Election Commission in support of their respective positions.
The Mamata-led faction has objected to the Election Commission's interim decision, while the rival faction has also been involved in the proceedings concerning control of the party. The Commission's current order does not constitute a final decision on which group is entitled to the All India Trinamool Congress name and its reserved election symbol.
The upcoming Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls have therefore become the immediate electoral context for the dispute. Both factions had fielded candidates while claiming the Trinamool Congress identity, prompting the Election Commission to establish an interim arrangement before the polling process moves forward.
The Election Commission has stated that the temporary arrangement will remain in force until the larger dispute is finally determined under the applicable provisions of the Election Symbols Order. The final decision will depend on the Commission's examination of the claims, documents and submissions made by the rival groups.
For voters in the two constituencies, the immediate change is that the competing groups will have to contest under separately allotted names and symbols for the bypolls. The Returning Officers will proceed with the election process after the Election Commission approves and allots the names and symbols.
The development has also intensified political attention around the internal dispute within the Trinamool Congress. However, the Election Commission's interim order should be distinguished from the political reactions to it. The Commission has so far made a temporary arrangement for the upcoming bypolls and has not issued a final ruling on the ultimate ownership or organisational control of the party.
The October 6 bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar will therefore take place under the interim framework unless further directions are issued by the Election Commission before polling.