Trinamool split over party name, symbol as by‑poll deadline approaches

The West Bengal Election Commission has been juggling two internal disputes within the Trinamool Congress regarding its legal name and electoral logo. Meetings were conducted separately with the Ritabrata Banerjee "rebel majority" and the Mamata Banerjee "minority" groups. Following a Friday session, the rebel camp submitted a supplementary explanation and supporting paperwork by Saturday evening. The commission subsequently consulted the Mamata‑led faction, sharing the newly received documents and asking for their perspective. According to insiders, the Mamata side also replied, seeking details of the evidence presented by the rival faction. With the candidate filing deadline fixed for September 16, political commentators argue that the commission is unlikely to resolve the identity issue before the deadline, compelling both sides to contest the Nandigram and Raiganj seats with either a free‑symbol option or symbols that may be allocated after the filing date.