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The Election Commission of India froze the name 'All India Trinamool Congress' and its reserved symbol 'Flowers and Grass' after two rival groups each claimed to be the party.
The order was passed on the evening of 17 September 2026 under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, ahead of assembly by-elections.
Both factions were told to submit three alternative party names and three free symbols in order of preference, and neither was allowed to use the original name.
The faction led by Mamata Banerjee was allotted the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' with the 'Football Player' symbol; the faction led by Arup Roy became the 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' with the 'Envelope' symbol.
The arrangement is interim and covers the by-elections to Nandigram and Rejinagar, polling on 6 October 2026 with counting on 9 October, until the Paragraph 15 dispute is finally decided.
| Item | Mamata Banerjee faction | Arup Roy faction |
|---|---|---|
| Interim party name | Mamata All India Trinamool Congress | Democratic Trinamool Congress |
| Interim symbol | Football Player | Envelope |
| Type of symbol | Free symbol, from the unallotted pool | Free symbol, from the unallotted pool |
| Status of the original identity | Frozen; may not be used | Frozen; may not be used |
| How long it lasts | Until the Paragraph 15 dispute is finally decided | Until the Paragraph 15 dispute is finally decided |
The ECI's own statutory order governing the reservation, choice and allotment of symbols, the recognition of political parties, and disputes over party identity. Paragraph 15 covers rival factions of a recognised party; Paragraphs 6A and 6B set the vote and seat conditions for State and National party recognition. It was promulgated in 1968 and first tested on the 1969 Congress split.
Vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission. The 1968 Order is issued in exercise of these plenary powers, which is why the ECI can adjudicate an intra-party dispute at all.
Provides for registration of political associations with the ECI, including filing the party constitution. The Commission tests whether a split or expulsion followed that registered constitution - the Test of Party Constitution and Internal Democracy.
Deal with the specification and allotment of symbols to candidates, and are read with the 1968 Order when a symbol is allotted or withheld.
Constitutional body under Article 324 that superintends elections; under Paragraph 15 it hears both factions and decides which, if any, is the recognised party. Its tests are the Test of Majority in the legislative and organisational wings, the Test of Party Constitution and Internal Democracy, and the Test of Aims and Objects. Where party registers or office-bearer lists are contested or parallelly constituted, it falls back on verified affidavits of elected MPs and MLAs
The Election Commission promulgates the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order.
The Indian National Congress splits into Congress (O) and Congress (J) - the Order's first major test.
In Sadiq Ali v Election Commission of India the Supreme Court upholds the ECI's approach, treating majority support in the organisational and legislative wings as the decisive test; the disputed symbol was 'Two Bullocks with Yoke on'.
The ECI allots the name 'Shiv Sena' and the 'Bow and Arrow' symbol to the Eknath Shinde faction, acting under Article 324 read with Paragraphs 15 and 18 of the Order.
The ECI recognises the Ajit Pawar faction as the Nationalist Congress Party and gives it the 'Clock' symbol, chiefly on legislative majority.
58 rebel Trinamool MLAs elect Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, the party's first split.
The ECI freezes the Trinamool name and symbol and allots interim identities to both factions ahead of the 6 October by-elections.
GS Paper 2 > Polity > Election Commission of India; salient features of the Representation of People's Act; political parties
General Awareness > Indian Polity, constitutional bodies and current events
General Awareness > Current Affairs and Indian Polity
Which Article of the Indian Constitution deals with the "Election Commission of India"?
Answer: Article 324
Consider the following statements: 1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body. 2. Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections. 3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: 3 only
Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner of India?
Answer: President
The clause of the 1968 Symbols Order under which the ECI, after hearing rival sections of a recognised party, decides which of them - or neither - is that party.
A symbol kept exclusively for a recognised National or State party; the Trinamool's 'Flowers and Grass' is one, and it is now frozen.
A symbol from the unallotted pool, available to unrecognised parties and independent candidates; both Trinamool factions were given free symbols.
The ECI's primary test in a split, counting support in both the legislative wing (MPs, MLAs, MLCs) and the organisational wing (executive members, delegates and office-bearers).