The former West Bengal chief minister rejects the Election Commission’s interim arrangement after her faction receives a new name and the ‘Football Player’ symbol
Kolkata: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday strongly opposed the Election Commission’s interim decision to bar rival factions of the Trinamool Congress from using the party’s existing name and ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol in the upcoming bypolls.
Calling the move a “Black Day” in India’s democratic history, Banerjee said her faction would challenge the decision through political, democratic and legal means.
The Election Commission has meanwhile allotted Banerjee’s faction the name ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ along with the ‘Football Player’ symbol. The rival faction led by Arup Roy has been assigned ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Envelope’ symbol for the October 6 bypolls.
The arrangement is temporary and will remain in force until the EC takes a final decision on the organisational dispute. She described the EC action as “unconstitutional, illegal and undemocratic”, insisting that she would continue to claim the original party identity and symbol.
Banerjee also alleged that the development was part of a broader attempt to weaken opposition parties, citing the earlier political disputes involving the Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra.
The developments come as Banerjee’s faction announced support for the Congress candidate in Nandigram after its nominee withdrew from the bypoll. She said the decision was intended to strengthen the INDIA bloc.
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