ECI freezes TMC name and symbol: Dilip Ghosh says party is 'finishing itself'
Synopsis
The ECI's decision to freeze the Trinamool Congress name and symbol ahead of two Bengal bypolls has handed the ruling dispensation a potent political argument — and Dilip Ghosh wasted no time deploying it. With party accounts frozen, offices lost, and MPs and MLAs scattered across rival groups, the TMC's organisational collapse is no longer just a claim from opponents; it is, for now, a ruling by the election regulator.
Key Takeaways
The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued an interim order on Thursday, 18 September 2026 , barring both factions of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) from using the party's name and symbol.
The order covers the upcoming Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal.
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh said TMC leaders were 'finishing themselves off' by fighting each other, with accounts frozen and offices lost.
Ghosh alleged that 'anti-social and anti-national activities' flourished under Mamata Banerjee's government, citing Calcutta High Court orders directing the CBI to act.
He confirmed a fresh inquiry into the RG Kar case and the doubling of the welfare amount under the renamed 'Annapurna Bhandar' scheme.
On US tariff threats over Russian oil purchases, Ghosh said India would continue to act solely in its national interest.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday, 18 September 2026, issued an interim order barring both factions of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) from using the party's name and election symbol in the upcoming Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal. In the immediate aftermath, West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh on Friday said the opposition party's leaders were 'finishing themselves off' by fighting among themselves, with neither faction left in control of the party's core identity.
ECI Order and What It Means
The ECI's interim directive effectively places the TMC's name and 'grass and flowers' symbol in limbo ahead of two crucial bypolls. Both factions — each claiming to be the legitimate Trinamool — are now barred from deploying the familiar branding that decades of Bengal politics have made recognisable to voters. The order underscores a sharp internal rupture within one of West Bengal's dominant political forces.
Speaking to reporters in Kharagpur, Ghosh said: 'The status of the Trinamool Congress is such that they are finishing themselves off by fighting among themselves. The public has rejected them. Their accounts have been frozen. Their party office, which occupied space in someone's house, has been lost. One of their MPs is in another party, their MLA is in a third party, and Mamata Banerjee is left alone. A party cannot run like this.' He added: 'Everything is now in the hands of the Election Commission, and they will take the decision.'
Ghosh on Law and Order Under Previous Government
Commenting on the Calcutta High Court's order directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to crack down on illegal constructions, Ghosh alleged that 'anti-social and anti-national activities' had flourished in West Bengal under the Mamata Banerjee-led government. He claimed the police had remained inactive and no action was taken against those involved in major corruption cases.
Ghosh said that once the government changed, immediate action followed. 'Since the police did nothing, people went to court. And by court order, inquiries into major scams and violence have now begun. This will boost the morale of the local people,' he said.
RG Kar Case, Women's Safety and Annapurna Bhandar
Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on Annapurna Diwas, Ghosh said the government had doubled the welfare amount previously offered through the 'Lakshmir Bhandar' scheme, renaming it 'Annapurna Bhandar'. He insisted that the safety and dignity of women remained the administration's top priority.
He also referred to the RG Kar case, saying a fresh inquiry was under way and those implicated had been suspended. 'The safety and dignity of women will remain our top priority. The present government will fulfil the wishes of the Hon'ble Prime Minister,' he said.
Curriculum, Syama Prasad Mukherjee and US Tariff Remarks
On the state's educational curriculum now including the biography of Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Ghosh said: 'Syama Prasad Mukherjee is the founder of West Bengal. He fought against Jinnah and separated it from Pakistan. Our next generation needs to know about this.'
Responding to reports that the United States had passed a bill proposing 100 per cent tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, Ghosh said India would continue to act in its national interest and dismissed suggestions that Washington's stance would significantly alter New Delhi's energy policy.
He also commented on the arrest of alleged CPI-Maoist leader Asim Mandal, alias Akash, saying security agencies had grown more active against extremist groups since the change of government in West Bengal.
What Comes Next
The ECI is expected to issue a final ruling on the TMC symbol dispute before the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls, a decision that could reshape how both factions contest the seats. With party branding stripped away, voter recognition — long a TMC asset — becomes uncertain, and both sides will need to rebuild ground-level credibility under new labels or symbols.
Point of View
However politically charged, track a real structural reality: fractured parliamentary representation, frozen accounts, and disputed party infrastructure. What mainstream coverage risks underplaying is the bypoll timing — stripped of its iconic symbol, the TMC's ability to mobilise lower-information voters in Nandigram and Rejinagar is directly compromised, potentially redrawing local political arithmetic before a single ballot is cast.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the ECI bar the Trinamool Congress from using its name and symbol?
The Election Commission of India issued an interim order on 18 September 2026 amid a dispute between two factions of the TMC, each claiming to be the legitimate party. Pending a final ruling, both factions are barred from using the party's name and 'grass and flowers' election symbol in the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly bypolls in West Bengal.
What did Dilip Ghosh say about the Trinamool Congress?
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh said the TMC was in a situation where its leaders were 'finishing themselves off' by fighting among themselves. He cited frozen accounts, the loss of party offices, and members moving to rival parties as evidence that the organisation had collapsed.
Which bypolls are affected by the ECI order on TMC?
The ECI order applies to the upcoming Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies in West Bengal. Both TMC factions will have to contest without the party's recognised name or symbol until the Commission issues a final ruling.
What is the RG Kar case that Ghosh referred to?
The RG Kar case is a high-profile matter involving alleged wrongdoing linked to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Ghosh stated that a fresh inquiry is under way and those implicated have been suspended, framing it as part of the new government's push on accountability and women's safety.
What did Ghosh say about the US tariff threat on countries buying Russian oil?
Ghosh said reports of a US bill proposing 100 per cent tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil would not significantly alter India's energy policy. He said India had consistently maintained that it would procure oil and goods from whichever country served its national interest.
