Election Commission freezes Trinamool name and symbol ahead of bypolls

The Election Commission has temporarily frozen the All India Trinamool Congress name and the party’s ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol ahead of by-elections in West Bengal, according to The Hindu. The order affects rival factions, which have both been asked to submit alternative names and symbols. The supplied material does not explain the dispute between the factions or state how long the freeze will remain in place.

Reacting to the decision, Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee said: “Democracy has no place for dictatorship.” His comment was a response to the Election Commission’s order. The available information does not identify the constituencies involved in the bypolls, set a deadline for the factions’ submissions or describe the Commission’s reasons for temporarily freezing the established party name and symbol. The order means the rival groups will need to use alternatives for the affected electoral contest unless the Commission subsequently changes its decision.