New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) The Congress on Thursday condemned the the Election Commission’s decision of directing rival All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) factions to not use the party name and the “flowers and grass symbol” during the West Bengal bypolls, alleging that it was abdication of constitutional responsibility by the poll body.
The Congress further said freezing the AITC name and symbol is CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s “late night birthday gift” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Election Commission has directed rival factions of the AITC not to use the party name and symbol during the bypolls, and asked them to submit their preferred names and symbols by Friday morning.
In its interim order issued on Thursday night, the commission, after hearing leaders of the two factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy, said the matter requires substantive determination by the poll body under provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968.
Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal said, “Freezing the AITC name and symbol – after a blatantly unconstitutional hijack by the BJP – is CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s late night birthday gift to Modi ji.” Those who fought against the BJP, under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, are now being given the red carpet to rebel against her and commit the unconstitutional sin of defection with the ECI’s help, he said on X.
The ECI has once again proven that it is nothing more than “a puppet in the hands of the BJP” and a “tool to destroy democracy bit by bit”, Venugopal alleged.
“They did it in the case of Shiv Sena, NCP, and now AITC – whoever opposes the BJP is dealt a fatal blow and their entire electoral existence is snatched away from them,” he said.
“We condemn this move, and demand that the ECI immediately restore the two leaves symbol to Mamata Banerjee ji,” Venugopal said.
Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said the ECI’s decision to freeze the AITC symbol is not “justice”. “It is an abdication of its constitutional responsibility,” he said on X.
“The breakaway faction of the AITC has no constitutional basis and hence, no legitimate claim to the AITC symbol. The symbol belongs to the party that bears its name,” Khera said.
In its interim order, the EC said, “On due consideration of the totality of information available on record… the commission is of the opinion that there are two rival groups in the All India Trinamool Congress, one led by Ms. Mamata Banerjee and the other led by Shri Arup Roy.” “Each group is now claiming to be the party, and therefore the matter requires a substantive determination by the commission under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order 1968,” it said.
Accordingly, the commission said, to place both the rival groups on an even keel and to protect their rights and interests and going by the past precedent, the commission gave its interim order to cover the purpose of the current by-elections and to continue till the final determination of the dispute in the matter.
“Neither of the two groups led by Shri Arup Roy (Petitioner) and the other led by Ms. Mamata Banerjee (Respondent) shall be permitted to use the name of the party ‘All India Trinamool Congress’.
“Neither of the two groups shall also be permitted to use the symbol ‘Flowers and Grass’, reserved for ‘All India Trinamool Congress’,” the commission said. PTI ASK SKY SKY
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