# EC freezes TMC name, symbol, BJP and Congress trade ‘party-split’ charges

2026-09-18T11:36:56+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

The Election Commission has temporarily frozen the All India Trinamool Congress party name and its 'Flowers & Grass' election symbol pending a dispute between the Mamata Banerjee-led faction and a breakaway camp led by Arup Roy. The EC ordered both factions to choose alternative names and symbols for the upcoming West Bengal bypolls. The Mamata Banerjee faction has been allotted 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' with the 'Football Player' symbol, while the rival faction received 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' with the 'Envelope' symbol. Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and the EC of colluding to split parties, alleging a pattern after the Shiv Sena and NCP disputes. BJP spokespersons countered that the TMC and NCP were themselves formed by splitting from the Congress. Union minister Kiren Rijiju labelled the Congress a 'Bhasmasur' that destroys parties. Mamata Banerjee called the EC's order unconstitutional and announced her faction would support the Congress candidate in Nandigram bypoll. The EC's final determination on who retains the original party name and symbol is pending.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

The coverage treats the TMC symbol freeze as an extension of the ongoing Congress-versus-BJP political duel, not as a standalone election-law story. New Indian Express and Hindustan Times centre the BJP's retort, that TMC and NCP broke from Congress themselves, while Times of India amplifies Kiren Rijiju's stronger 'Bhasmasur' framing. Only the Hindustan Times sketch notes the EC's procedural basis under the Symbols Order. The critical framing from Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee, alleging a pattern of 'party chori', gets fuller space in Times of India, which also reports Banerjee's Nandigram withdrawal to back Congress. The balanced reading is that both sides accuse each other of the same sin: party-splitting. The concrete watch item is the EC's final determination of who keeps the original TMC name and 'Flowers & Grass' symbol, which could reshape West Bengal's opposition landscape before the 2026 election season.

## Coverage

- newindianexpress.com (pro government) <https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2026/Sep/18/bjp-hits-back-at-congress-over-tmc-symbol-row-says-rahul-should-first-look-at-his-partys-history>
  Leads with BJP's counterattack, not EC order, omits Rahul Gandhi's full allegation and Mamata Banerjee's response
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tmc-formed-after-breaking-away-from-congress-bjps-reminder-to-rahul-gandhi-amid-symbol-row-101789722115450.html>
  Gives balanced space to BJP's retort and TMC's faction details, but buries EC's procedural rationale in the final section
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/congress-is-bhasmasur-rijiju-hits-back-at-rahul-gandhi-over-party-breaking-charge/articleshow/134335957.cms>
  Opens with Rijiju's 'Bhasmasur' attack, includes EC order details, and fully quotes Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee's criticism

Tags: BJP, Election Commission of India, Mamata Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi, Sudhanshu Trivedi, Trinamool Congress
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