NEW DELHI:
The Election Commission has frozen the name and election symbol of the All India Trinamool Congress amid a dispute between rival factions over control of the party.
The poll panel has directed the two factions to choose separate names and symbols for the time being, pending further proceedings on the dispute. The development comes ahead of the Nandigram Assembly bypoll scheduled for October 6.
The dispute has triggered a political response from opposition leaders. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Election Commission’s action and expressed support for Mamata Banerjee, while alleging that the BJP-led Centre and the poll panel were working together against opposition parties. These are political allegations by Gandhi and are not established findings.
The Election Commission’s proceedings are focused on determining the competing claims over the party’s identity and election symbol. The order has added another political dimension to the upcoming bypoll in West Bengal.