New Delhi: Trinamool Congress has been temporarily banned by the Election Commission of India from using the name and reserved election symbol of two flowers on grass by two rival factions of the party in upcoming Assembly by-elections in West Bengal.The temporary measure was announced by the commission and stated that two rival factions, which are headed by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee, respectively, claim identity and organizational control of the All India Trinamool Congress.
This decision will be finalized later by the commission. The decision has come before the by-elections scheduled for October 6 to Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies. As per the interim arrangement, no group would be permitted to use the name “All India Trinamool Congress” during the coming bypolls. The two factions would not even be allowed to use the symbol of the party, which is a combination of two flowers on a grass stem.
Rather, both the factions have been advised to pick up separate names and symbols for the coming bypolls. However, both the factions may retain some association with their parent organization while selecting their names.
The Commission has asked both factions to submit their preferred names and free symbols. Each group has been asked to provide three names in order of preference and three free symbols, also in order of preference. The ECI will then approve one name and allot one symbol to each faction.
The interim arrangement will remain in place until the Commission reaches a final decision on the organisational dispute under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968.
