ECI to decide Trinamool name and symbol dispute as rival factions complete submissions

Kolkata- The deadline for the two rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress to submit documents to the Election Commission of India (ECI) in support of their claims over the party's name and election symbol ends at 5.30 p.m. on Monday.

With both camps completing their submissions, the Election Commission will now examine the claims before deciding which faction will retain the Trinamool Congress name, election symbol and control over the party's funds.

One faction is led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, while the rival group is headed by expelled party MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, who claims to have the backing of a majority of the party's legislators.

The rebel faction has argued that it enjoys numerical superiority both in the Trinamool Congress Legislature Party in the West Bengal Assembly and in the newly constituted National Working Committee announced last month. The group has also replaced Mamata Banerjee with senior party legislator Arup Roy as the party's national chairperson.

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Meanwhile, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction has defended its claim on two key grounds.

First, it argues that the legislators now supporting the rebel camp, including Ritabrata Banerjee, were elected on Trinamool Congress tickets and symbol after receiving nominations approved by Mamata Banerjee. Therefore, they cannot subsequently claim ownership of the party's name or symbol.

Secondly, the faction contends that the new National Working Committee announced by the rebels lacks legitimacy because it was formed solely on the basis of numerical strength in the West Bengal Assembly.

The Mamata camp has also maintained that Mamata Banerjee was unanimously re-elected as the party's national chairperson for life during the party convention held in February 2022, where delegates from West Bengal as well as several other states participated. Therefore, it argues that any attempt to replace her through a committee constituted only by state legislators is invalid.

Amid the ongoing dispute, Mamata Banerjee has publicly acknowledged the possibility that the party could lose its official election symbol.

In a live social media address on Saturday, she alleged that the rebel group's primary objective was to gain control of the party's name, election symbol and financial assets.

"I know that we may ultimately lose control of the election symbol. Even if that happens because of the Election Commission's decision, I will not be worried. What matters is the support of ordinary people and grassroots workers. When I first received the party symbol, I contested an election within one month and 22 days. If needed, I will once again go before the people carrying the symbol around my neck. You cannot silence my voice. To do that, you would have to kill me," she said.

With inp[uts from IANS