Kolkata, Sep 9 (PTI) The Election Commission on Wednesday called both factions of the Trinamool Congress for separate meetings in New Delhi on September 12 amid their ongoing tussle over control of the party, its name, assets and election symbol.
The EC wrote to Ritabrata Banerjee, the Leader of Opposition in the assembly, granting an appointment to a five-member delegation at 11 am.
The poll panel also wrote to former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, offering her faction a meeting an hour later.
The meetings come ahead of the October 6 assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, for which the nomination process began on Wednesday.
Ritabrata Banerjee leads a group of around 60 of the 80 newly elected TMC MLAs who broke ranks with Mamata Banerjee following the party’s defeat to the BJP in the assembly polls held earlier this year.
The dissident faction had earlier approached the EC, staking claim to the party’s name, financial assets and its ‘Jora Ghash Phool’ (twin flowers on grass) electoral symbol.
It said it will contest the upcoming bypolls using the TMC’s name and symbol, while remaining prepared to fight as independents if the EC does not recognise its claim before the nomination process ends on September 16.
“The Commission has decided to give an appointment to your delegation comprising five members for a meeting on 12.09.2026 (Saturday) at 11.00 AM at India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM), Sector-13, Dwarka, Delhi,” the EC communication to the rebel group said.
The development came on a day both rival TMC camps announced that they would field candidates for the bypolls.
The two factions had earlier appeared before the poll panel in connection with the dispute.
A 10-member delegation of the Ritabrata Banerjee-led group met the full bench of the EC in Delhi on July 2 after the faction staked claim to the TMC’s organisational control and assets, citing majority support.
The EC subsequently sought responses from both factions by July 6.
While the Mamata Banerjee-led bloc submitted its response within the deadline, the EC granted the rebel group an extension till July 10, and subsequently extended the final deadline to July 25, following another request for more time.
In its response, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction rejected the dissidents’ claim, maintaining that the party’s organisational committees remain valid until 2027, in accordance with the party constitution.
The bypolls are likely to be followed by high-stakes elections to civic bodies in the state, including that of Kolkata and Howrah, later this year. PTI SMY SOM
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