For the first time since its founding in 1998, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) will contest an election in West Bengal without its iconic "twin flowers on grass" (Jora Ghas Phool) symbol.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued an interim order freezing the party's name and reserved symbol ahead of the upcoming Assembly by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar scheduled for October 6.

The directive follows a petition filed by supporters of rebel TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee claiming ownership of the party identity. The poll panel clarified that the freeze will remain in effect until a final determination is made regarding the legitimate leadership, party structure, and control of party assets under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols Order, 1968.

Background and EC Directives for Upcoming Bypolls

• Interim Order Rules: Neither the faction led by founder Mamata Banerjee nor the rebel camp led by West Bengal Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee may use the name "All India Trinamool Congress" or its traditional symbol for the upcoming bypolls. Both factions must select temporary alternative names and select free symbols from the EC's approved list.

• Origin of Internal Rift: Internal strife erupted after the May 2026 West Bengal Assembly election results. Out of 80 elected TMC legislators, 58 backed Ritabrata Banerjee, who was subsequently recognized as the Leader of the Opposition. The rebel camp later claimed to appoint senior MLA Arup Roy as the chairperson of the "real TMC," a move rejected by Mamata loyalists.

• Symbol's Heritage: Hand-drawn by Mamata Banerjee when she formed the party on January 1, 1998, after breaking away from the Indian National Congress, the "twin flowers on grass" symbol has served as the core emblem of her political platform and the Ma-Mati-Manush slogan for nearly three decades.

• Bypoll Landscape: Bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar were necessitated after seats were vacated post-election. Candidates fielded by both the Kalighat (Mamata) and Ritabrata factions will now contest using newly assigned temporary names and independent symbols allocated by the Commission.