EC meets both TMC factions amid their 'real party' claims

On Saturday, the Election Commission of India met with representatives of both factions of the Trinamool Congress, Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee, to resolve a dispute over the party's symbol and organizational elections. This meeting is significant as it precedes the upcoming Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly bypolls on October 6, where the nominated candidates must be filed by September 16.

The Mamata Banerjee faction argued that there was no internal dispute within the party, claiming the rebel faction was merely composed of "traitors" and that the national working committee was still within its five-year term. The Ritabrata faction, however, contended that the party constitution stipulated a three-year term, which had expired in February 2025.

Mamata Banerjee's delegation, consisting of Derek O'Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Sagarika Ghose, Saket Gokhale, and advocate Abhinav Singh, presented their case to the EC, supporting their claim as the legitimate party entitled to use the TMC's twin flower poll symbol. The Ritabrata faction, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, also presented its arguments, contending that the party constitution allowed for a three-year term that had concluded in February 2025.

Mamata Banerjee's delegation brought five members, while Ritabrata Banerjee's delegation comprised Akhruzzaman, Arup Roy, Chandrima Bhattacharya, and Riju Datt, all of whom had received Rs 25 lakh from the party to contest the elections.