EC freezes TMC symbol ahead of Bengal bypolls; opposition cries foul

The Election Commission of India has issued an order temporarily freezing the All India Trinamool Congress party name and its registered 'Flowers and Grass' symbol in the run-up to West Bengal bypolls, setting off a political row in the state.

The freeze comes as the party remains split between two factions, with both groups claiming legitimate claim to the party's original name and election symbol. The EC directive requires each faction to propose alternative party names and symbols for use during the upcoming bypolls.

Reacting sharply to the decision, Ritabrata Banerjee, leader of the opposition faction, condemned the order as undemocratic. "Democracy has no place for dictatorship," Banerjee said, signalling strong resistance to the EC's move.

The symbol freeze is expected to complicate campaigning for both TMC factions, as they navigate the election process without access to the party's traditional electoral identity. The bypolls are scheduled for West Bengal, with the symbol dispute likely to remain a contentious issue until the EC provides clarity on the matter.

The Election Commission's decision underscores the institutional challenge posed by intra-party disputes in Indian elections, where rival factions claim legitimacy based on competing interpretations of party succession and democratic principles.