Election Commission freezes Trinamool Congress name and symbol

The Election Commission of India has frozen the name and symbol of the Trinamool Congress party, allotting new identities to its rival factions for upcoming bypolls in West Bengal. The interim order, issued on September 17, 2026, prevents both the faction led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a rival group from using the party's traditional "All India Trinamool Congress" name and its "Flowers and Grass" symbol in the October 6 assembly bypolls for Nandigram and Rejinagar. The commission stated the matter requires substantive determination under the Election Symbols Reservation and Allotment Order of 1968. For the bypolls, the Banerjee-led faction was assigned the name "Mamata All India Trinamool Congress" and a "Football Player" symbol. The rival faction, led by Arup Roy, received the name "Democratic Trinamool Congress" and an "Envelope" symbol. In a swift political response, Mamata Banerjee announced on September 18 that her faction would support the Congress candidate in the Nandigram bypoll. This decision came hours after her party's nominee, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew her nomination following a meeting with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.