The Election Commission today allotted separate names and electoral symbols to the rival factions of the Trinamool Congress party. This will allow the groups led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy to contest the by-elections under new identities. The group led by Arup Roy has been allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the Envelope symbol.

 

The faction led by Mamata Banerjee has been allotted the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Football Player symbol. In its order, the poll body said both groups would be treated as recognised political parties in West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura. The decision follows the Commission’s interim order yesterday, under which it froze the party name All India Trinamool Congress and the Flowers and Grass symbol amid an internal dispute over control of the party. 

 

Both factions will now contest the bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar on the 6th of next month under their new names and symbols.