The Election Commission of India has issued an interim order freezing the name "All India Trinamool Congress" and its reserved "Flowers & Grass" symbol and barring both rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress from using the party name and symbol for upcoming bye-elections.

Recognizing that time was inadequate to finalize proceedings under Paragraph 15 of the Symbols Order before ongoing bye-elections, the Commission directed both factions to submit three preferred group names and free symbols for temporary allocation.

There are two rival groups in All India Trinamool Congress, one led by Mamata Banerjee and the other led by Arup Roy, and each group claimed to be the party.

The Coram of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu ordered, "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;...Neither of the two groups shall also be permitted to use the symbol “Flowers & Grass”, reserved for “All India Trinamool Congress”; 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”; and Both the groups shall also be allotted such different symbols as they may choose from the list of free symbols notified by the Election Commission for the purposes of the current bye-elections."

All India Trinamool Congress has a logo with the symbol “Flowers & Grass” allotted as its reserved symbol in the said states under the provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

An internal rift broke out over the leadership and operational management of the recognized political party, All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), when Mamata Banerjee informed the Election Commission of India (ECI) on June 23, 2026, that an AITC National Working Committee (NWC) meeting took place on June 20, 2026, to announce office bearers.

Simultaneously, Ritabrata Banerjee also submitted a petition contending that the NWC’s mandate had expired on February 11, 2025, making all following actions invalid from the outset, and noted that a Special Session assembled on June 22, 2026, selected Arup Roy as the NWC Chairperson.

Ritabrata Banerjee also submitted a news clipping titled "Mamata Banerjee overhauls Trinamool Congress". As per the clipping, in order to completely reorganize AITC, Chairperson Mamta Banerjee held a meeting with members of the party’s National Working Committee at her Kalighat and decided to have new people appointed to most of the party’s posts.

The Commission noted, "Having regard to the above facts and circumstances as indicated under para 32 above, it is evident that the time available is not adequate to complete the proceedings under Para 15 of the Symbols Order. However, the Commission takes note of the urgency involved with regard to use of party symbol and party name in the ongoing by-elections."

Accordingly, both the groups were directed to furnish the names of their groups by which they may be recognized by the Commission and, to this end, give three options in order of preference, any of which may be approved by the Commission.

Cause Title: In re: Dispute Case No. 01 of 2026 – Dispute in All India Trinamool Congress - dispute under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968 Shri Ritabrata Banerjee and others vs Ms. Mamata Banerjee and others

Tags: