The Election Commission of India has barred both factions of the Trinamool Congress from using the party’s name and election symbol in the upcoming Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal. In an interim order issued yesterday, the Commission said neither the Mamata Banerjee-led group nor the Arup Roy-led group can use the name All India Trinamool Congress or the party’s reserved twin-flower symbol.

Both groups will have to contest the bypolls under different names and with election symbols allotted by the Commission. This arrangement will continue until the dispute is finally settled. The Commission said documents and claims submitted by both sides show that there are currently two rival groups within the Trinamool Congress, with both claiming to be the real party. As the dispute cannot be settled before the upcoming bypolls, the Commission has taken this temporary step to decide who can use the party’s name and symbol for now.