'Footballer' for Mamata, 'Envelope' for Rebels; EC Assigns Temporary Names, Symbols to Two TMC Factions

Kolkata: The Election Commission has introduced an interim arrangement to resolve the dispute between the two factions of the Trinamool Congress, assigning new names and temporary symbols to both groups ahead of the by-elections scheduled for October 6.

The arrangement will remain in place until the Commission takes a final decision on which of the two factions represents the legitimate Trinamool Congress.

Under the new order, the official faction led by Mamata Banerjee has been allotted the name ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Football Player’ symbol. The faction led by Arup Roy, who was declared the new party chairman by the rebels, has been allotted the name ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Envelope’ symbol.

The Commission selected the new symbols from the lists submitted by the two factions after freezing the party's original symbol.

Both factions have fielded candidates in the by-elections to Nandigram and Rajinagar in West Bengal and Nagaon in Assam. With scrutiny of nominations underway in the West Bengal constituencies, the Election Commission took up the matter on an urgent basis and issued the order.

The Commission had directed both factions to propose a new name and three preferred symbols for contesting the upcoming elections. They were asked to submit their fresh proposals before 11 am on Friday.