- Election Commission heard rival TMC factions over party symbol.
- Mamata's camp confident, ready with 'Plan B' for symbol.
- Ritabrata's faction alleged EC deliberately delaying symbol decision.
TMC symbol row: The Election Commission of India held a hearing of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) rivals Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee factions separately in New Delhi on Thursday. The battle for the Trinamool Congress' organisational identity and its 'twin-flowers on grass' symbol entered a potentially decisive phase as the poll body is likely take final decision ahead of the bypoll in West Bengal.
What Mamata's Camp Said After The Hearing
Following the recognition hearing before the Election Commission, TMC MP and key member of Mamata's faction, Kalyan Banerjee, said the hearing took place for nearly one hour and 30 minutes, in which they made their points.
"We have said, if this is correct, they claim that in 2025 it (All India Trinamool Congress committee) has expired. How can they be elected in 2026? That symbol has been issued by Mamata Banerjee. Now they went to the Speaker on June 3 and said, 'We are the block of the AITC.' They were on that date itself. Up to that day, you have accepted the existence of the AITC. All of a sudden, you have said on June 22 that there is no AITC. You can't approve it and disapprove it," Kalyan said.
#WATCH | Delhi: Following the recognition hearing before the Election Commission, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee says, "The hearing had been taking place for nearly one hour and 30 minutes. We have pointed out that the Election Commission has also given the hearing. We have said, if this… pic.twitter.com/Y1uWNjGrG5
— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2026
Targetign the leader of rival group, Ritabrata Banerjee, he said the malice of Ritabrata is that since he has not been chosen as the opposition leader, he has played the entire game. Someone who joined only in 2023 cannot claim the party symbol, he added.
"This gentleman, who joined the party in 2023, is not the party's original man and now he is trying to take away the party," Kayan said.
What Ritabrata Said After EC Hearing
On the other hand, Ritabrata, after the EC hearing, said we presented our arguments and addressed the queries raised regarding the by-elections in Rejinagar and Nandigram.
"Yesterday was the deadline for filing nominations for these by-elections, and scrutiny took place today, so the issue of symbol allotment is now pending. We have submitted Forms A and B; however, Forms A and B have also been submitted from Kalighat, so the Election Commission must make the final decision. We are representing the Trinamool Congress and have submitted Form A. The process now lies with the Election Commission and the Returning Officer, who will likely make a decision after consulting the Commission. The Election Commission is the apex body; we must have faith in it. We operate within a parliamentary democracy, so we have to trust the Election Commission," he added.
#WATCH | Delhi | West Bengal LoP Ritabrata Banerjee says, "We met the Election Commission's full bench today...We presented our arguments and addressed the queries raised regarding the by-elections in Rejinagar and Nandigram. Yesterday was the deadline for filing nominations for… pic.twitter.com/qFuaHFjBO4
— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2026
Kunal Ghosh Hints Plan B For Mamata's Camp
TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh hinted that Mamata's camp is ready to go head even if the party symbol will given to the rival group. "We always believe that the leader is important, not the symbol. Earlier, there was the hand symbol, and the twin flowers on grass symbol, which was also brought to the people by Mamata Banerjee. People support Mamata Banerjee. Whatever symbol she gets, party workers and people will support that symbol," he added.
The TMC leader said they are confident and hopeful that if rules are followed—though the Election Commission often acts on the BJP's dictation—if rules are followed, the symbol belongs to Mamata Banerjee.
Barasat, West Bengal: On TMC Party's Symbol Row, TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh says, "We always believe that the leader is important, not the symbol. Earlier, there was the hand symbol, and the twin flowers on grass symbol, which was also brought to the people by Mamata Banerjee. People… pic.twitter.com/6TVWMg7fMB
— IANS (@ians_india) September 17, 2026
Tussle Over TMC Symbol
On the other hand, the Ritabrata-led camp alleged that the Election Commission was deliberately delaying the matter despite having all the relevant evidence and documents, and was "trying to create a lot of noise" around the issue.
The back-to-back hearings come after both factions submitted documents and legal material to the commission, and hours after the September 16 deadline for filing nominations to the October 6 bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly seats. The timing has added urgency to a dispute that is no longer confined to organisational control.
The immediate question is whether either faction will enter the bypolls with the "Jora Ghas Phul (twin-flowers on grass)" symbol, or whether the commission will put the symbol on hold pending a final determination.
(With Agencies Inputs)