TMC faction dispute: Both sides file documents with ECI over name, symbol
Synopsis
India's TMC is effectively fighting itself before the Election Commission — two factions, both claiming to be the 'real' party, have now formally filed competing legal documents over the name, symbol, and funds. With BJP allegedly backing the rebel side and the Supreme Court likely to be the final arbiter, this is less a party dispute and more a battle for Bengal's political future.
Key Takeaways
Both TMC factions submitted documents to the ECI in New Delhi on 6 July over the party name, symbol, and funds.
The Mamata Banerjee–Abhishek Banerjee faction was represented in person by Kalyan Banerjee , Mahua Moitra , and Sagarika Ghose .
The Ritabrata Banerjee -led rebel faction filed through legal counsel without a personal delegation.
Kalyan Banerjee alleged that the BJP is backing the rebel faction, vowing to fight in courts and before the public if needed.
Political observers expect the losing side to challenge the ECI's forthcoming decision in the Supreme Court .
The two warring factions of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday, 6 July submitted separate sets of documents to the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in New Delhi, each pressing their claim over the party's name, election symbol, and funds. The filings mark a critical procedural step in what has become one of India's most consequential intra-party disputes of 2025.
Who Showed Up and How
The faction aligned with former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee — which describes itself as the 'original but minority' grouping — was represented in person. Lok Sabha MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra, along with Rajya Sabha member Sagarika Ghose, personally appeared at the ECI to file their submissions.
In contrast, the rival 'rebel but majority' faction — led by expelled TMC legislator Ritabrata Banerjee — did not send a personal delegation. Instead, a team of legal counsel submitted the documents on its behalf. The Ritabrata faction had not issued an official clarification of its specific arguments as of Monday.
What the Mamata Faction Argued
Kalyan Banerjee, himself a senior advocate, addressed reporters after the filing. He asserted that his faction holds a significantly stronger legal position in the dispute. However, he flagged what he described as an external variable: 'But since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is backing them, anything otherwise can happen. Thereafter, we will take up the matter both in the court and also approach the public,' he said.
The allegation that the BJP is supporting the rebel faction adds a sharp political dimension to what is formally an electoral-law proceeding before the ECI.
Background to the Split
The dispute traces back to a deepening rift within the TMC over leadership, organisational control, and the direction of the party in West Bengal. The Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction, which claims to represent the numerical majority within the party, had last week sent a 10-member delegation — including Ritabrata himself — to meet the full bench of the Commission and present their case in person. Monday's document submission was a follow-up to that meeting.
At stake is not merely a symbolic party name. Control of the TMC's election symbol and registered funds carries enormous practical weight ahead of future state and national elections in Bengal.
What Happens Next
With both factions having now filed their respective documents, the matter rests with the ECI to adjudicate. Political observers, however, caution that the Commission's ruling is unlikely to be the final word. Whichever side is aggrieved by the ECI's decision is widely expected to challenge it before the Supreme Court. The dispute, in other words, has several more rounds to run — through quasi-judicial, judicial, and ultimately political arenas.
Point of View
But the allegation that the BJP is actively backing the rebel faction deserves scrutiny: if true, it would represent a pattern of using institutional processes to destabilise a regional rival. The Supreme Court is almost certainly the next stop regardless of the ECI's ruling, which means this dispute will shadow Bengal politics well into the next election cycle. What mainstream coverage underplays is the funds dimension — control of a registered party's treasury is as consequential as the symbol, and that fight has barely begun.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TMC name and symbol dispute before the ECI?
The All India Trinamool Congress is split into two factions — one led by Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, and a rival group led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee — each claiming rights over the party's official name, election symbol, and funds. Both sides filed separate documents with the Election Commission of India on 6 July to press their respective claims.
Who represented each faction at the ECI on 6 July?
The Mamata Banerjee faction was represented in person by Lok Sabha MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra, and Rajya Sabha member Sagarika Ghose. The Ritabrata Banerjee faction did not send a personal delegation and instead had legal counsel submit documents on its behalf.
What did Kalyan Banerjee say after filing the documents?
Kalyan Banerjee said his faction is in a stronger legal position but warned that BJP backing for the rival side could alter the outcome. He stated the faction would approach the courts and the public if the ECI ruling goes against them.
What will the ECI decide, and can it be challenged?
The ECI will adjudicate which faction has legitimate claim to the TMC name, symbol, and funds. However, political observers widely expect the losing side to challenge the ruling before the Supreme Court, meaning the dispute is unlikely to be resolved at the Commission level alone.
Why does control of the party symbol and funds matter?
The registered party symbol and name are essential for contesting elections under the recognised party banner, giving voters a familiar identity marker. Control of party funds further determines the faction's ability to campaign and sustain operations, making this dispute directly consequential for future elections in West Bengal.
