Mamata Banerjee has filed a petition with the Supreme Court contesting the Election Commission’s decision to temporarily suspend the name and symbol of the Trinamool Congress. This action comes amid a dispute between two factions of the party: one led by Banerjee herself and the other by Ritabrata Banerjee, both of whom are asserting their claims to the party’s identity.
Banerjee Backs Congress Candidate in Bengal
At a press conference held at her Kalighat residence, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced her support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan. She referred to Congress as a ‘sister party’ and emphasized the importance of unity within the INDIA bloc. ‘Let the message (for strengthening INDIA bloc) begin from Bengal,’ she stated, highlighting her commitment to collaborative politics in the region.
The Mamata faction was allotted the name ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Football Player’ symbol. The Ritabrata Banerjee-Arup Roy faction got the name ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ and ‘Envelope’ as its symbol. Mamata’s court move, calling the EC’s interim order illegal, came just hours after the bypoll in Nandigram saw its own controversy. Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the Banerjee faction’s candidate, withdrew after meeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. “The arrest of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan for the Nandigram by-election is no coincidence-it is political revenge, the murder of democracy… The Congress will neither fear nor bow down. “She had fielded a candidate, and now that her candidate has withdrawn, she is extending support to us. The BJP took a dig that neither party would win anyway.
The EC’s interim order of September 17 barred both factions from using the name ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ and the party’s ‘flowers and grass’ symbol , and made them choose different names and symbols for the October bypolls. Congress leader KC Venugopal said on X: “Using a dormant 19-year-old case from 2007 to arrest our candidate – minutes after Mamata Banerjee ji extended support – is a sign that BJP will go to any lengths to hijack democracy. Earlier reporting noted: The Election Commission on Friday allotted separate names and electoral symbols to the rival factions of the Trinamool Congress, allowing the groups led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy to contest elections under new identities ahead of the October 6 Bengal bypolls. The votes will be counted on October 9.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi called the arrest “political revenge”. We will fight-and we will win,” he said. Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh said: “Why such lack of confidence, why such fear? Bengal state Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, however, said the party had not sought Banerjee’s backing. We have not asked for her support,” Chowdhury said. Earlier reporting noted: Football vs Envelope: Mamata Banerjee’s Party, Rebels Get New Name, Symbol Football vs Envelope: Mamata Banerjee’s Party, Rebels Get New Name, Symbol Football vs Envelope: Mamata Banerjee’s Party, Rebels Get New Name, Symbol Earlier reporting noted: The group led by Arup Roy has been allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol, while the faction led by Mamata Banerjee has been allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol. The group led by Arup Roy has been allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol, while the faction led by Mamata Banerjee has been allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol.
