We saved Trinamool symbol from disgrace, say leaders of Ritabrata-led faction

As the Election Commission of India (ECI) approved new symbols and names for both factions of the Trinamool Congress, the leaders of the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction said they have saved the party’s iconic “Grass and Twin Flower” symbol from disgrace. 

“This is a temporary decision for the by-poll. Grass and twin flower symbol will remain with us. We have saved this symbol from disgrace. We have accepted what ECI directed us. We have faith in the agency,” said the chief whip of party Akhtaruzzaman. 

On Thursday (September 17, 2026), the ECI froze the symbol and the name of the party —All India Trinamool Congress— for use by any of the factions for the upcoming byelections in Nandigram and Rejinagar. Later on Friday (September 18, 2026), both the factions submitted their choices of names and symbols to be used in the election.

The ECI allotted the “football player” symbol to the Mamata Banerjee-led faction who will now fight the bypolls as ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress ’, while the “envelope” symbol was given to the Ritabrata faction who will contest as ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’. 

Trinamool Congress was founded by Mamata Banerjee in 1998 when she herself designed the iconic ‘joraful’ (grass and twin flowers) symbol. The party came to power in 2011, defeating the 34-year-old Left Front government. After the 2026 Assembly polls, when the Trinamool Congress lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a rebellion started in the party’s rank and file.

On June 3, at least 58 MLAs of the party supported Ritabrata Banerjee in his claim as the Leader of Opposition. The number of MLAs in his support has now increased to more than 65. They have accused the general secretary of the party, Abhishek Banerjee, of making unilateral decisions and centralising power in the organisation that has allegedly harmed the sentiment of the experienced and ground level leaders.

Out of 80 MLAs of Trinamool who won the Assembly polls, only around 14 are still supporting Mamata Banerjee and one person is behind bars.

Leader of Opposition in Bengal Ritabrata Banerjee said they submitted three preferences: Nationalist Trinamool Congress, West Bengal Trinamool Congress, and Democratic Trinamool Congress. “However, the ECI allotted us the third preference in name and the first preference of envelope symbol,” he stated during a press conference.  

The LoP also slammed the Mamata Banerjee-led faction for using her name in the party’s name. He said that the Trinamool Congress is a collective organisation and it does not belong to any one person. Therefore, they have not used anyone’s name while submitting their preferences.

On Friday afternoon (September 18, 2026), Sanchita Pradhan (De), the Mamata All India Trinamool Congress candidate for Nandigram, revoked her nomination after an alleged meeting with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Mr. Ritabrata termed this as only an attempt to play as the B-team of BJP.

“Now everyone knows who is the real agent of the BJP. We have asked Ms. Banerjee to contest the election from Nandigram. We said that we would support her. But she didn’t. It means she didn’t want the entire Trinamool Congress to fight unitedly. This is how she backed the BJP. We have saved the party’s dignity today as even the ECI did not allot the symbol and name to them,” he said.

Byelections in two constituencies in West Bengal —Nandigram and Rejinagar— is scheduled on October 6.