New Delhi, September 2026 : Amid the ongoing dispute over the name and election symbol of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the faction led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has submitted alternative names and symbols to the Election Commission of India (ECI), according to sources.
Sources said the faction has proposed three names and two election symbol options to the poll panel. The move follows an interim order under which both factions have been barred from using the original party name, ‘All India Trinamool Congress’, and its reserved election symbol.
The Election Commission had asked both sides involved in the dispute to submit alternative names and free symbol options for the upcoming by-elections. The interim arrangement is intended to allow the electoral process to proceed while the larger dispute over the party's identity is considered.
Mamata Banerjee Faction Seeks to Retain TMC Identity
According to sources, the three names submitted by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction seek to retain references associated with the Trinamool Congress and Mamata Banerjee. The proposals are understood to reflect an effort to preserve elements of the party's established political identity and its association with its leadership.
The faction has also reportedly prioritised symbols associated with sports while suggesting alternatives for the election symbol. These symbols are understood to have been selected from the Election Commission's available list of free symbols.
However, the final decision on the names and symbols rests with the Election Commission. The poll panel will determine which names and symbols can be allotted to the respective factions in accordance with the applicable electoral rules.
ECI Restricts Use of Original TMC Name and Symbol
The dispute over the TMC's name and election symbol led the Election Commission to introduce an interim arrangement for the upcoming by-elections.
According to the information cited in the matter, both factions had claimed to represent the original Trinamool Congress. In view of the competing claims, the Commission directed both sides not to use the original party name and reserved symbol until a final decision is reached.
Under the interim arrangement, both factions have been asked to participate in the electoral process using separate names and free election symbols. The arrangement is aimed at avoiding confusion among voters while the dispute is being examined.
Both Factions Presented Their Claims
The dispute prompted both sides to approach the Election Commission with their respective claims concerning the party's name and election symbol. Each faction submitted documents, arguments and other material in support of its position.
Following the proceedings, the Commission indicated that the dispute would be resolved through the prescribed process. The current arrangement is interim in nature and has been put in place in view of the approaching by-elections.
The issue has assumed significance with by-elections scheduled in West Bengal. The restriction on the use of the original party name and symbol means that both factions face the task of contesting the upcoming polls under new electoral identities.
The submission of alternative names and symbols by the Mamata Banerjee faction is now likely to be followed by scrutiny and a decision from the Election Commission. The poll panel's approval will determine the electoral identities under which the two factions can contest the upcoming by-elections.
