TMC Leader Ritabrat Banerjee Criticizes Election Commissions Decision on Party Symbol

Kolkata, September 18 (Daily Kiran) : Ritabrat Banerjee, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, expressed strong criticism regarding the Election Commission‘s interim decision to freeze the name and election symbol of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). He stated that this ruling clarifies that political parties cannot be treated like private entities and cannot be advanced through dynastic succession.

Banerjee described the situation as shocking for party leaders, who were unaware of the Commission’s decision until they disembarked from their flight. “We found out as soon as we landed that our election symbol and party name had been frozen. However, one thing is clear: there is no room for dictatorship in a democracy,” he asserted.

He elaborated on the implications of the Election Commission’s order, stating that it proves there is no place for dynastic politics. “Political parties are not private limited companies, nor can anyone inherit a political party. This has been demonstrated today,” he added.

His comments came in response to the Election Commission’s directive to halt the use of the name “All India Trinamool” and its election symbol, instructing opposing factions to select new names and symbols until the dispute is resolved.

This decision is expected to significantly impact the upcoming by-elections in West Bengal, particularly in the Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies, where polls are set for October 6.

In its ruling, the Election Commission noted that it had considered available information and concluded that there are two rival factions within the “All India Trinamool Congress,” each claiming to represent the party. The Commission stated, “After due consideration of all information on record, it believes that there are two opposing factions within the All India Trinamool Congress—one led by Mamata Banerjee and the other by Arup Roy. Both factions now claim to be the real party, necessitating a decisive ruling under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.”