Mamata Banerjee supports Congress candidate in West Bengal bypolls
Mamata Banerjee lashes out over new name and symbol, calls it political vendetta.
Former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, on Friday described the developments related to the internal factional dispute of the Trinamool Congress as a "black day" in the history of Indian democracy. Her response came after her faction withdrew the nomination of its candidate for the Nandigram by-election. Mamata stated that her faction will now support Congress in both Nandigram and Assam.
Addressing a press conference, Mamata said that,
her faction does not disrespect constitutional positions, but she described the entire episode as "unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic, and a completely biased retaliatory action taken to satisfy the ego of a political party."
Mamata further stated that,
“We do not disrespect constitutional positions, but we feel that today is a black day in our democratic history. What is happening in the country is extremely unfortunate, unconstitutional, illegal, and undemocratic. It is a completely biased retaliatory action taken to satisfy the ego of a political party.”
Mamata also alleged that her faction had already been warned against using the party name and election symbol.
Mamata further stated that,
“They have already said—‘I will not let you keep the name, I will not let you keep the symbol.’ Who are these people? Today they are in power, but they may not be in power tomorrow. They should understand their limits.”
Mamata's statement came after her faction's candidate for the Nandigram by-election, Sanchita Pradhan De, withdrew her nomination on Friday. The last date for withdrawal of nominations was Saturday. Earlier, the Election Commission had issued an interim order prohibiting both rival factions of the Trinamool Congress from using the name "All India Trinamool Congress" and its traditional election symbol "two flowers on grass."
Subsequently, the Election Commission allocated the name "Mamata All India Trinamool Congress" and the election symbol "football player" to the faction led by Mamata Banerjee. This faction will be recognized as a political party in West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Tripura.
Meanwhile, the faction led by Arup Roy was given the name "Democratic Trinamool Congress" and the election symbol "envelope."
Sanchita Pradhan De had filed her nomination as the candidate from Nandigram for the faction led by Mamata Banerjee in the presence of former state minister Akhil Giri. On Friday, De also met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata. This meeting, held a day before the deadline for withdrawal of nominations, is being linked to changing electoral equations.
She said,
“They do not know that I cannot leave the All India Trinamool Congress. As long as I am in this world, it will always be with me. This is a very dirty game, but we are also ready to fight it. I want the BJP to be out of power in India. We want unity in the India alliance.”
Mamata further stated, “In Nandigram, we will support the Congress party. This is in the larger interest of the country. I will decide on Rezinagar later. We are not contesting elections in Assam.” Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of "vote theft" and weakening democratic institutions, calling it a very unfortunate situation. She said, “Before us, Uddhav Thackeray also faced a similar situation. I have no respect for anyone who is only busy satisfying the ego of the BJP.”
This entire episode emerged after the Election Commission's interim order, which prohibited both factions of the Trinamool Congress from using the party's traditional name and election symbol. Following this, both rival factions were allocated different names and election symbols.
According to sources, the Mamata Banerjee faction had proposed three options for the party name, including "Mamata All India Trinamool Congress." For the election symbol, the faction suggested two options—football player and cricket bat. On the other hand, the faction led by Arup Roy, represented by the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee, proposed two names—‘Jatiyatabadi Trinamool Congress,’ meaning Nationalist Trinamool Congress, and ‘Gantantrik Trinamool Congress’, meaning Democratic Trinamool Congress. This faction suggested blackboard, envelope, and torch as options for the election symbol. The Election Commission ultimately approved the name ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ and the election symbol ‘envelope.’
The Commission stated that,
“Until a final decision on the dispute is made, both factions will not be allowed to use the party name and the ‘flower and grass’ election symbol.”
The Election Commission's decision to prohibit the use of the Trinamool Congress name and election symbol is considered a major setback for Mamata Banerjee. The rebel faction welcomed this decision, while the BJP claimed that Mamata Banerjee's party is now "on its deathbed." Meanwhile, Mamata's supporters termed the Commission's decision as "illegal." The faction led by Mamata Banerjee is trying to recover from the crushing defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year and the subsequent rebellion within the party. Losing the party name and election symbol at this time could further complicate their situation.
By-elections for the Nandigram and Rezinagar Assembly seats are scheduled for October 6. Elections for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Howrah Municipal Corporation will also be held after Durga Puja. Both the Mamata Banerjee faction and the rebel faction have fielded their respective candidates for both Assembly by-elections.
After the Election Commission's decision, Congress has supported Mamata Banerjee. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, alleged that the BJP and the Election Commission use the same method to break political parties.
Rahul Gandhi wrote on ‘X’,
“First Shiv Sena, then NCP, and now Trinamool Congress. The same method every time—the BJP and the Election Commission together break a party and then snatch its election symbol. If an entire party can be stolen, it is no surprise that millions of Indian votes can be stolen. Vote theft, government theft, and now party theft—these have become symbols of our democratic decline.”
He further wrote,
“The constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission is to protect the mandate, but instead, it is aiding those forces that overturn the people's decision. This fight is not just Mamata Banerjee's. It is the fight of every political party and every voter who wants free and fair elections.”
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav shared a media report regarding the different election symbols allocated to both factions, writing, “If the Election Commission makes decisions that strengthen democratic values, its reputation and respect will increase. There is nothing more to say… just one question—have the affidavits we submitted reached the Election Commission?”