TMC Splits! New Names & Symbols for Bypolls Amidst Party Turmoil

The two factions of the All India Trinamool Congress have officially received new names and symbols from the Election Commission of India, just ahead of crucial bypolls scheduled for October 6. This decision follows the ECI's earlier move to bar both groups from using the original 'Jora Ghash Phul' symbol and party name due to an internal dispute.

The faction led by Mamata Banerjee will now contest as 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress,' recognized by the 'football player' symbol. Meanwhile, the Arup Roy-led group has been named 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and will use the 'envelope' symbol.

This interim arrangement, made on Friday, September 18, 2026, aims to allow elections to proceed smoothly while the larger dispute over party leadership and assets is still being resolved by the ECI. The by-elections, critical for the political landscape, are set to take place in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal, along with a Lok Sabha bypoll in Nagaon, Assam.

Voters will cast their ballots on October 6, with results announced on October 9.

The ECI has clarified that nominations signed by Arup Roy for candidates like Safiuzzaman Saikh (Rejinagar) and Ehteshmul Haque (Nandigram) will represent the 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' (Envelope), while those signed by Mamata Banerjee for Rabiul Alam Chowdhury (Rejinagar) and Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) (Nandigram) will stand for the 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' (Football Player). This dramatic split within the Trinamool Congress traces back to a significant rebellion that erupted after the party's defeat in the May Assembly polls.

The dissent first manifested in the state legislature in June when 58 rebel MLAs elected expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee as the leader of opposition, defying Mamata's chosen nominee. The rift deepened further in Parliament, with 20 Lok Sabha MPs, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, aligning with the little-known NCPI and expressing support for the BJP-led NDA, signaling a profound rupture within the party's ranks.

The loss of the iconic 'Jora Ghash Phul' symbol, which has been central to TMC's identity since its formation in 1998 after breaking away from the Congress, represents a significant setback for Mamata Banerjee. The symbol was more than just an emblem; it was a potent expression of the party's grassroots connection and history over 28 years. The bypolls themselves were necessitated by various circumstances.

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who won from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, chose to vacate Nandigram.

Similarly, AJUP leader Humayun Kabir, winning from Naoda and Rejinagar, decided to give up the Rejinagar seat. In Assam, the Nagaon seat became vacant after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from his party to join the BJP.

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