New Delhi, September 18, 2026: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) split has led to new political identities for the two rival groups, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) assigning separate names and election symbols to both factions. The faction led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been given the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the election symbol of a football player. The rival faction has been given the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and an envelope as its election symbol. The decision comes ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly bypolls.
Why Did the TMC Get a New Name and Symbol?
The Election Commission recently recognised a split within the Trinamool Congress and ordered that both rival factions would not use the existing party name and its traditional flowers-and-grass symbol for the upcoming bypolls.
The two groups were asked to submit their preferred names and free election symbols to the poll panel. After considering their choices, the Election Commission allotted separate identities to the factions.
Mamata’s Faction Gets Football Player Symbol
Mamata Banerjee’s group will contest under the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress.
The group has been allotted the football player symbol. The choice is notable because football has a strong cultural and political connection with West Bengal, where the sport enjoys a large following.
The new identity will be used by the faction in the upcoming electoral contest under the Election Commission’s interim arrangement.
Rival Group Gets Democratic Trinamool Congress Name
The rival faction, led by Arup Roy and represented by Ritabrata Banerjee, has been allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress.
The group will use an envelope as its election symbol.
Both factions have therefore received separate names and symbols, allowing them to contest under different identities while the larger dispute over the original TMC identity remains unresolved.
#Breaking: #MamataBanerjee announces her decision that her #TMC camp will support #Congress candidate for bye-elections in #Nandigram. Decision regarding Rejinagar will be taken later. pic.twitter.com/1S3xQxubWX
— Pooja Mehta (@pooja_news) September 18, 2026
What Happened to the Original TMC Name and Symbol?
The original All India Trinamool Congress name and its familiar flowers-and-grass symbol have been frozen for the upcoming bypolls.
This is an interim arrangement by the Election Commission. The commission will have to take a further decision on the larger dispute over the party's identity and control.
For now, the two factions will operate under their newly allotted names and symbols in the relevant elections.
Bengal Bypolls Add to the Importance
The decision comes ahead of the October 6 West Bengal Assembly bypolls, including contests in Nandigram and Rajnagar.
With the original TMC name and symbol unavailable for these polls, the newly allotted identities will become important for candidates, party workers and voters during the election campaign.
The Election Commission's decision also gives both factions a clear electoral identity for the immediate election process.
What Happens Next?
The latest allocation does not necessarily settle the wider dispute over the Trinamool Congress.
The new names and symbols are part of an interim arrangement for the electoral process. The broader question of which faction controls the original party identity is still subject to further proceedings and decisions.
For now, Mamata Banerjee’s faction will appear as Mamata All India Trinamool Congress with the football player symbol, while the rival group will contest as Democratic Trinamool Congress with the envelope symbol.
