ECI reserves TMC symbol amid dispute; asks Mamata, Ritabrata factions to pick new names, symbols ahead of bypolls

The Election Commission of India said the decision was aimed at placing both groups on an “even keel” and protecting their rights and interests.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday barred the two factions of the All India Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee respectively, from using the party name and its reserved "Flowers and Grass" symbol for the October 6 bypolls in West Bengal’s Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly seats and Assam’s Nagaon parliamentary seat.

Both factions asked to submit preferred names, symbols by Sept 18

The commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, directed both factions to submit three preferred temporary group names and three choices from the list of free symbols by 11am on Friday. The 14-page interim order clarified that both sides could retain a visual or textual linkage to the parent party in their temporary group names.