TMC rebel faction to meet ECI full bench Thursday, claims party logo
Synopsis
The TMC's internal war has reached the Election Commission. A rebel bloc claiming 60 of 80 West Bengal MLAs meets the ECI full bench Thursday to seize the party's name, symbol, and funds — leaving Mamata Banerjee's loyalists holding just 20 seats and potentially short of the six per cent vote threshold needed to retain the symbol.
Key Takeaways
Ritabrata Banerjee -led rebel TMC faction meets ECI full bench in New Delhi on Thursday, 3 July 2025 to claim the party's election symbol and funds.
Rebel camp claims the backing of 60 out of 80 TMC legislators in the West Bengal Assembly.
On 22 June , rebels formed a new National Working Committee of 30 members , removing Mamata Banerjee as national chairperson and naming Arup Roy in her place.
Under the Election Symbols Order, 1968 , a party needs at least six per cent of valid votes (~ 37.80 lakh in West Bengal) to retain its symbol.
Rebel camp estimates its combined vote tally at ~48 lakh , against the 20-MLA loyalist faction's projected shortfall below the threshold.
Legal documents and resolutions have already been filed with the ECI ahead of Thursday's hearing.
A rebel but majority faction within the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislative party in the West Bengal Assembly, led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, is set to meet the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) at its headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday, 3 July 2025, to formally stake claim over the party's election symbol and funds.
Background to the Split
The rebel group had earlier sought an appointment with the Commission's full bench, and the ECI subsequently fixed Thursday as the date to hear their arguments. A team of 10 legislators from the rebel camp led by Banerjee departed for New Delhi on Wednesday evening ahead of the crucial hearing.
The fracture within the TMC deepened on 22 June, when the rebel faction unilaterally constituted a new National Working Committee comprising 30 members and a sub-committee of 10 members. In a pointed move, the name of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was removed as the party's national chairperson, with veteran legislator Arup Roy named in her place.
The Numbers Game at the ECI
The legal battle centres on control of the TMC's name and election symbol. Under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, a recognised regional party must secure at least six per cent of valid votes polled and hold at least two MLAs to retain its symbol.
In the last West Bengal elections, total votes polled stood at approximately 6.30 crore, placing the six per cent threshold at roughly 37.80 lakh votes. The rebel camp, which claims the backing of 60 of the 80 TMC legislators in the Assembly, argues that even at a conservative average of 80,000 votes per MLA, their combined tally reaches around 48 lakh — comfortably above the threshold.
The original but minority faction, which continues to back Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, holds only 20 MLAs by the rebel camp's reckoning. Their combined vote count, the rebel faction contends, would fall short of the 37.80 lakh mark — handing the numerical advantage decisively to the rebel side.
Legal Filings Already Underway
A team of lawyers acting for the rebel TMC legislators has already submitted all relevant resolutions and legal documents to the ECI's office ahead of Thursday's meeting. The Commission's full bench hearing will be the first formal opportunity for the rebel faction to present its case in person.
What Happens Next
The ECI's decision on symbol and fund allocation could fundamentally reshape the political landscape in West Bengal. A ruling in favour of the rebel faction would effectively strip the Mamata Banerjee-led group of the TMC's identity — its name, symbol, and financial resources. The Commission is expected to hear both sides before issuing any order, and the process could extend over several weeks given the legal complexity involved.
Point of View
And the Commission has historically been cautious about handing symbols before all legal remedies are exhausted. What is unusual here is the scale: a 60-20 split is not a fringe rebellion but a near-total legislative takeover. If the rebel arithmetic holds up under ECI scrutiny, Mamata Banerjee faces the prospect of contesting future elections without the 'Jora Ghash Phool' symbol she built her political brand around — a potentially devastating blow in a state where symbol recognition drives rural votes.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the TMC rebel faction meeting the Election Commission?
The rebel faction, led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, is meeting the ECI full bench on Thursday to stake a formal claim over the Trinamool Congress's election symbol and party funds. The group argues it represents the majority — 60 of 80 TMC MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly — and is therefore the legitimate claimant to the party's institutional identity.
What is the legal basis for claiming a party's election symbol?
Under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, a recognised regional party must secure at least six per cent of valid votes polled in the state and hold at least two MLAs to retain its symbol. The rebel faction claims its 60 MLAs collectively polled well above the ~37.80 lakh vote threshold, while the loyalist faction's 20 MLAs allegedly fall short.
Who is Ritabrata Banerjee and what triggered the TMC split?
Ritabrata Banerjee is an expelled TMC legislator who now leads the rebel faction within the party's West Bengal legislative group. The split escalated on 22 June when the rebel bloc formed a new National Working Committee, removed Mamata Banerjee as national chairperson, and named Arup Roy in her place.
Who is on Mamata Banerjee's side in this dispute?
The 'original but minority' faction — comprising 20 of the 80 TMC MLAs — continues to back Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. This group is significantly outnumbered in the Assembly but retains the support of the party's top leadership.
What happens after the ECI hearing?
The Commission is expected to hear arguments from both sides before issuing any order on symbol and fund allocation. Given the legal complexity, a final ruling could take several weeks. A decision in favour of the rebel faction would strip the Mamata Banerjee-led group of the TMC's name, symbol, and financial resources.
