EC freezes TMC name and symbol ahead of Bengal by-polls on 6 October
Synopsis
The Election Commission has frozen the TMC’s name and symbol just weeks before West Bengal by-polls in Nandigram and Rejinagar — the third major party to face this after Shiv Sena and NCP. With Mamata Banerjee’s faction and a rival group led by Arup Roy both claiming the party, the order could reshape October’s ballot in the state’s most politically charged constituencies.
Key Takeaways
The Election Commission of India ordered an interim freeze on the All India Trinamool Congress name and symbol on 18 September 2026 .
Two rival factions — one led by Mamata Banerjee and one by Arup Roy — are both claiming to represent the party.
The freeze directly affects West Bengal Assembly by-polls in Nandigram and Rejinagar on 6 October 2026 .
Congress MP Imran Masood called the EC a “toy,” warning the move is “very dangerous for democracy.” Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut drew a parallel with the Shiv Sena and NCP splits, calling TMC Mamata Banerjee’s life’s work.
The EC has invoked Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 for a substantive ruling.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on 18 September 2026 ordered an interim freeze on the name and election symbol of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), directing rival factions within the party to adopt new names and symbols until the dispute is formally resolved. The order carries immediate consequences for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly by-polls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, scheduled for 6 October.
What the EC Order Says
In its interim order, the Commission concluded that there are two rival groups within the All India Trinamool Congress — one led by Mamata Banerjee and the other by Arup Roy — each claiming to represent the party. The EC invoked Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, noting that a substantive determination is required before any faction can be granted the party's name or symbol on a permanent basis.
Both factions have been instructed to operate under new identities for the duration of the freeze. The order is directly tied to the two by-poll constituencies where TMC's recognised symbol would otherwise appear on ballot materials.
Opposition MPs Condemn the Decision
Congress MP Imran Masood, reacting sharply to the order, said the Election Commission had become a “toy” being wielded for political ends. “This is very dangerous for democracy. The Election Commission has become a toy and is being used like one. First Shiv Sena, then NCP, and now TMC. This means you will neither spare the parties nor the votes, you will steal the votes as well as the parties. It takes years to make an election symbol reach the people, and you will simply freeze the election symbol. A party is built through its organisation, not just through MPs and MLAs…” Masood said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also weighed in, drawing a direct parallel between the TMC dispute and his own party’s split. “This party was founded by Mamata Banerjee through her own strength, hard work and struggle, and she built the party. The Trinamool Congress has made a significant contribution to the politics of the state and the country. Just as the Shiv Sena belongs to Balasaheb Thackeray, the Trinamool Congress belongs to Mamata Banerjee, and the Nationalist Congress Party belongs to Sharad Pawar…” Raut said.
A Recurring Pattern of Symbol Disputes
The EC’s move follows a now-familiar pattern of intra-party splits that have forced the Commission to adjudicate over official party identity. The Shiv Sena split between the Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray factions, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) division between the Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar camps, both resulted in prolonged EC proceedings over names and symbols. Critics argue that the frequency of such disputes — and the speed with which the Commission has acted in some cases relative to others — raises questions about institutional impartiality. The Commission has not publicly commented on these comparisons.
Impact on West Bengal By-Polls
The timing of the freeze is particularly consequential. With by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar less than three weeks away on 6 October, both TMC factions will have to campaign under unfamiliar identities. Nandigram carries symbolic weight as the constituency where Mamata Banerjee won the 2021 Assembly election amid considerable controversy. The by-polls will serve as an early test of voter loyalty to the symbol versus the leader.
What Happens Next
The Commission is expected to undertake a substantive hearing under the Election Symbols Order, 1968 to determine which faction is the legitimate successor to the All India Trinamool Congress. Both sides will be required to submit evidence of organisational support, legislative backing, and party structure. Until that determination is made, neither faction can use the party’s established ‘flowers and grass’ symbol. Legal challenges before the Supreme Court or relevant High Courts remain a possibility, as was seen during the Shiv Sena dispute.
Point of View
One of West Bengal’s most symbolically loaded constituencies, is not a neutral administrative act: it rewrites the electoral landscape mid-campaign. The deeper question mainstream coverage is not asking is why intra-party disputes of this scale keep landing at the EC’s door rather than being resolved through internal party democracy — a structural gap that the current legal framework does nothing to address.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Election Commission frozen the TMC’s name and symbol?
The Election Commission froze the All India Trinamool Congress name and symbol on 18 September 2026 because two rival factions — one led by Mamata Banerjee and one led by Arup Roy — both claim to be the legitimate party. Under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, the Commission must conduct a substantive hearing before awarding the name and symbol to either side.
How does the TMC freeze affect the West Bengal by-polls?
The freeze directly affects Assembly by-polls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, scheduled for 6 October 2026. Both factions must campaign under new names and symbols, which could confuse voters accustomed to the party’s established identity and symbol.
What did Congress MP Imran Masood say about the EC’s order?
Masood said the Election Commission had become a ‘toy’ being used for political purposes. He argued that freezing an election symbol built over years damages democracy and cited the Shiv Sena and NCP precedents as evidence of a pattern.
Which other parties have faced similar EC symbol freeze orders?
The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) both faced EC proceedings over their names and symbols following high-profile factional splits. In each case, the Commission froze the disputed symbol and directed both sides to use new identities pending a final ruling.
What happens next in the EC’s TMC dispute process?
The Commission will conduct a substantive determination under Para 15 of the Election Symbols Order, 1968, requiring both factions to submit evidence of organisational and legislative support. A final ruling on which faction is the legitimate All India Trinamool Congress is expected after the hearing concludes. Legal challenges before higher courts remain possible.
