TMC symbol war: ECI asks factions for more documents

After the first round of hearing on Saturday, the Election Commission of India has asked both factions of the Trinamool Congress to submit more documents on September 16, following which it would give a second round of hearing if required before finally deciding on which faction of the outfit would own the party symbol — twin flowers popularly known as ‘Ghass Phool’.

The TMC vertically fell apart into two factions post its colossal defeat in this year’s Assembly elections. One group is led by former Chief Minister and founding leader of the party Mamata Banerjee, and the other group is led by present Opposition Leader Ritabrata Banerjee.

While the Mamata Banerjee group, popularly known as the Kalighat faction, has about 20 members to its side, the Ritabrata faction commands the support of about 60 MLAS.
According to reports, the ECI has asked for submission of some more documents by October 16 from both sides, following which it would give a second hearing, if required, on October 17 before deciding finally as to which faction should own the party symbol.

The ECI decision comes amid preparations for two Assembly by-elections for Nandigram and Rejinagar seats in Bengal. While Nandigram was vacated by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari himself who had won from Bhawanipore seat too in the recently conducted State polls, Rejinagar was vacated by breakaway TMC leader Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir.

Even as both sides exuded confidence of getting the ECI order in their favour, the Kalighat faction said that they would go ahead with filing the nomination for both the seats with theoriginal “Ghaas Phool” symbol. “As there is nothing specifically said by the ECI about this matter, we are going to file our nomination with Ghaas Phool… if the order goes against us then we will see what can be done,” a senior TMC leader and advocate said. The last date of submission of nomination for the by-elections was October 16.

The ECI met both factions on Saturday and heard their sides separately. While the Kalighat faction was represented by MP Derek O’Brien and four others, the other faction was represented by Ritabrata Banerjee himself.
After the meeting, he said, “The meeting was fruitful … they (ECI) had many queries. We answered them and showed some documents.
They asked us to submit those documents. We will be doing that.”

The Kalighat faction, on the other hand, said that “we have made it very clear that there is no faction or dispute… there is only one party led by Mamata Banerjee opposed by a bunch of traitors.” The senior leader said that the members of the other faction got Rs 25 lakh each to contest the elections only after TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee cleared the amount, and they fought elections under this symbol to win it.”