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

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

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 sides have said they will field candidates in the upcoming by-elections under the Trinamool symbol, the ‘ joda ghaash phool’ (twin grass flowers). Going by the precedent set in the Shiv Sena case, sources said the ECI is likely to freeze the party symbol temporarily.

The Mamata Banerjee camp has submitted fresh documents relating to the organisational elections held in 2015, 2017 and 2022. It has also urged the Commission to upload all relevant documents on its website. The submissions are intended to establish that Ms. Banerjee is the party’s chairperson.

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

The party further reiterated that since July 2, when Mr. Ritabrata Banerjee first staked claim to the party, he has failed to furnish any documents in support of his claim.

Bengal / All India Trinamool Congress / Election Commission of India / law

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