New Delhi: The Election Commission has allotted the name ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Football Player’ symbol to the Mamata Banerjee faction, while allotting ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ name and ‘Envelope’ symbol to the rebel faction led by Arup Roy.
On late Thursday night, the EC froze the name of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) in an interim order, taking note of the rival groups in the party. Neither of the groups could, therefore, use the party’s name or its reserved ‘Flowers & Grass’ symbol or the AITC name, for the upcoming bye-elections, pending a final determination of the organisational dispute.
The decision comes less than 20 days before the bye-elections in West Bengal’s Rejinagar and Nandigram constituencies, and Assam’s Nagaon constituency. The elections to the three constituencies are scheduled for 6 October, but the last date for the scrutiny of nominations was 17 September. This date was deferred to 18 September.
The Commission has directed the returning officers of Rejinagar, Nandigram and Nagaon to consider the specific candidates fielded by the two factions under the AITC name, with their new names and symbols.
“The Returning Officers of the 70-Rejinagar Assembly Constituency, 210-Nandigram Assembly Constituency and 9-Nagaon Parliamentary Constituency are directed to strictly comply with this Order during the scrutiny of nominations and allotment of symbols,” it said.
The Thursday order said that 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 passed an interim order for the purpose of bye-elections, and the order will remain in effect till the dispute is settled.
It noted that the time available was not adequate to complete the proceedings under Para 15 of the Symbols Order. “However, the Commission takes note of the urgency involved with regard to use of party symbol and party name in the ongoing by-elections.”
Para 15 says that if there are rival groups within a recognised political party, and each claims to be the real party, the EC can decide which group, if any, is the recognised political party.
The EC can do so after taking into account all the available facts and circumstances of the case and hearing such representatives of the sections or groups and other persons who want to be heard. The Commission’s decision shall be binding on all such rival sections or groups.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: ECI freezes Trinamool Congress name, symbol in interim order ahead of assembly bypolls