Kolkata: Election Commission on Thursday issued an interim order freezing the name ‘ All India Trinamool Congress ’ and the party’s ‘flowers and grass’ symbol.
The order signals a major shift in Bengal politics after 28 years. For the first time since Jan 1998, when Mamata broke away from Congress to form her own party, neither the name ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ nor its flowers-and-grass symbol will feature on EVMs in Bengal. Asked about the camp’s next move, he said, “We have a long time, till 11 am on Friday, to decide.
Because each had only one proposer, the move followed a submission by Congress that the nominations should be rejected.
EC’s 14-page order reasoned that an interim order was necessary because “the time available is not adequate to complete the proceedings under Para 15 of the Symbols Order”, given that the bypolls are less than three weeks away. Stating that the claims by the rival blocs required a “substantive determination”, the EC order said the interim decision would “cover the purpose of the current bye-elections and continue till the final determination of the dispute”. It added: “Both the groups shall be known by such names as they may choose for their respective groups, including, if they so desire, linkage with their parent party ‘All India Trinamool Congress’. ” The factions, EC said, “were asked to submit three options, in order of preference, for both their group names and free symbols”. Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee, who represented Mamata at Thursday’s hearings, called the order “unacceptable”. Ritabrata said, “Trinamool is not anyone’s fief. Earlier reporting noted: ECI reserves TMC symbol amid dispute; asks Mamata, Ritabrata factions to pick new names, symbols ahead of bypolls The Election Commission of India (ECI) reserved the Trinamool Congress’ ( TMC ) “Flowers & Grass” election symbol amid an ongoing dispute between rival factions of the party. Earlier reporting noted: In an interim order released on Thursday, the ECI said the decision was aimed at placing both groups on an “even keel” and protecting their rights and interests. The order will remain in force until the final determination of the dispute, said the poll body. Earlier reporting noted: Both factions have staked a claim to being the “real” Trinamool Congress and had approached the national poll body seeking recognition as the party’s legitimate leadership.
The party, which governed the state for a decade and a half, was trounced by BJP in this year’s assembly polls, leading to a split in the once formidable organisation. The ruling specified: “Neither of the two groups led by Shri Arup Roy (Petitioner) and other led by Ms. Mamata Banerjee (Respondent) shall be permitted to use the name of the party ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ simplicitor, nor use the symbol ‘Flowers & Grass’.
We will decide our course of action tomorrow. Earlier on Thursday, the returning officers (ROs) in Nandigram and Rejinagar adjourned the scrutiny of nominations filed by candidates fielded by the rival Trinamool camps to Friday.