ECI gives Mamata, Ritabrata more time to submit documents in Trinamool symbol dispute

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee. File | Photo credit: ANI

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has given more time to both former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Ritabrata Banerjee to submit additional documents, if necessary, to support their claims for the Trinamool Congress electoral symbol. Documents must be submitted by September 16 at 3 p.m.

Coincidentally, the nomination process for the October 6 assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar also closes on the same day.

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Both parties said they would field candidates under the Trinamool symbol, “joda ghaash phool” (flowers of two grasses) in the upcoming by-elections. Following the precedent set in the Shiv Sena case, sources said the ECI is likely to temporarily freeze the party symbol.

The Mamata Banerjee camp submitted new documents related to the organizational elections held in 2015, 2017 and 2022. It also urged the Commission to upload all relevant documents on its website. The purpose of the filing is to prove that Ms. Banerjee is the president of the party.

“It takes 28 years to build a party. A rape accused cannot destroy a party in four months without any paper,” said a senior Trinamool leader.

The party further reiterated that since July 2, when Mr. Ritabrata Banerjee first staked the claim on the party, he has not submitted any documents to support his claim.

Published – 13 Sep 2026 20:06 IST