Mamata Banerjee Proposes New Party Names And Symbols To Election Commission Amid TMC Split

In a significant political development in West Bengal, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has submitted three potential names and three election symbols to the Election Commission of India. This move comes as a response to the ongoing internal conflict within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has led to a split in the party. According to sources, the camp led by Mamata Banerjee has proposed names such as Trinamool Mamata Congress or All India Trinamool Congress Mamata as alternatives for the upcoming electoral battles, while the submission was made via email to the poll body, marking a critical step in the legal and organizational battle for the party's identity.

Proposed Symbols and the 'Khela Hobe' Slogan

The choice of symbols reflects the cultural and political narrative of the region. The Mamata Banerjee faction has suggested Football, Prayer, and a Cricket Bat as their preferred symbols. Interestingly, the suggestion of the Cricket Bat is accompanied by the popular political slogan 'Khela Hobe', which has been a central theme in West Bengal's recent political discourse. The Election Commission had previously directed both the factions involved in the dispute to provide three alternative names and three free symbols in order of preference, while this arrangement is intended to be an interim measure for the upcoming by-elections in the state.

The Stance of the Rebel Faction

Ritabrata Banerjee, who is leading the rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress, confirmed that they've also complied with the Election Commission's directives. He stated that his group has submitted three names and three symbols via email and is now awaiting the final decision of the commission. The dispute over the party's original name and the reserved symbol, which features flowers and grass, remains unresolved. The Election Commission has clarified that a final decision regarding the rights to the original party name and symbol will only be taken after the conclusion of proceedings under Paragraph 15 of the Symbols Order.

Origins of the Internal Conflict

The roots of this political crisis can be traced back to the aftermath of the West Bengal Assembly elections. In that election, the Trinamool Congress suffered a significant defeat, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a resounding victory, while following this electoral setback, a large number of winning legislators refused to accept Mamata Banerjee as their leader. This group, under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee, formed a separate faction, triggering a fierce battle for control over the party, while the conflict initially began with claims over party funds and eventually escalated to a dispute over the party's name and official symbol.

Organizational Legitimacy and the 2022 Committee

The rebel faction has based its legal challenge on the organizational structure of the party. They claim that the National Working Committee of the TMC was established in February 2022 with a three-year mandate. According to their argument, this term expired in February 2025. Consequently, the Ritabrata Banerjee group has questioned the validity of the current organizational setup, asserting that a new committee should have been formed in accordance with the party's constitution. On June 22, 2026, the rebel leaders held a meeting where they claimed to have elected Arup Roy as the Chairperson of the National Working Committee. Following this, they approached the Election Commission, claiming to be the 'real' Trinamool Congress.

Mamata Banerjee's Counter-Arguments

The faction loyal to Mamata Banerjee has vehemently denied these claims, while they argue that the rebel group has misinterpreted the party's constitution and that the meeting held on June 22 can't be considered a valid organizational process. The Mamata camp maintains that the election of party officials and the formation of committees were conducted strictly according to constitutional norms. That's why, they contend that the rebel group's attempt to remove Mamata Banerjee or establish a parallel organization has no legal standing. This deadlock led both sides to claim the original 'Flower and Grass' symbol before the Election Commission.

The Election Commission's Interim Decision

The situation intensified with the announcement of by-elections for the Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly seats, while both factions intended to field candidates and sought to use the official TMC name and symbol. After reviewing documents and hearing arguments from both sides, the Election Commission issued an interim order on September 17. The commission ruled that for the time being, neither faction would be allowed to use the name 'All India Trinamool Congress' or the reserved 'Flower and Grass' symbol. Instead, they were asked to choose from alternative names and free symbols. The commission noted that these names could indicate an association with the original party, while this interim arrangement ensures that the by-elections can proceed while the broader question of party control remains under deliberation.