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Mamata loses 'Twin Flowers' symbol as EC intervenes

Published : Friday, 18 September, 2026 at 3:37 PM

Observer Online Report

Collected Photo

The Election Commission of India has temporarily frozen the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) name and its "Flowers and Grass" symbol ahead of upcoming Assembly bypolls in West Bengal.

The order issued late Thursday night prevents Mamata Banerjee's party from using the "Twin Flowers" symbol—which she designed herself 28 years ago—for the upcoming October 6 by-elections in the Rejinagar and Nandigram constituencies. Anandabazar reported.

The ruling follows a petition submitted to the poll panel by supporters of rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee, who broke away following the May 4 Assembly election results. Ritabrata gathered the backing of 58 out of the party's 80 elected MLAs to assume the role of Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.

The Election Commission stated that neither the faction led by Mamata Banerjee nor the rebel camp headed by Arup Roy and Ritabrata Banerjee may use the party name or symbol until a final decision is reached regarding legitimate ownership of the party.

The commission instructed both sides to select temporary distinct names and choose alternative symbols from the list of free symbols for the upcoming bypolls.

Mamata Banerjee founded the All India Trinamool Congress on January 1, 1998, after breaking away from the Indian National Congress. She sketched the grass-and-flowers emblem to reflect the party's grassroots connection and her core slogan, "Ma-Mati-Manush."

The symbol dispute remains under review by the election authority under the Symbols Order.

-SA

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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