Stories
Congress Slams ECI for Freezing TMC Name, Symbol; Calls it 'Injustice'
- •Congress criticized the Election Commission of India's decision to freeze the All India Trinamool Congress' (AITC) name and party symbol amidst the 'Asli TMC' dispute.
- •Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal alleged the freezing was a 'blatantly unconstitutional hijack by the BJP' and a 'late night birthday gift to Modi ji' from CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
- •Venugopal claimed the decision would enable those opposed to Mamata Banerjee to rebel and defect with ECI's help, accusing the ECI of being a 'puppet in the hands of the BJP'.
- •Congress MP Pawan Khera stated the ECI's decision was an 'abdication of its constitutional responsibility' and that the breakaway faction had no legitimate claim to the AITC symbol.
- •The ECI issued an interim order directing rival AITC factions not to use the party name and 'Flowers and Grass symbol' during West Bengal bypolls, asking for preferred names and symbols by Friday morning.
Key Questions Answered
The Election Commission of India (ECI) froze the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) name and its "Flowers and Grass" symbol due to an ongoing dispute over the party's identity. This "Asli TMC" conflict is being fought between party chief Mamata Banerjee and a rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
The freezing of the "Twin Flowers" symbol and the "All India Trinamool Congress" name directly impacts the upcoming by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
The Congress party strongly condemned the decision, calling it "unjust" and a "blatantly unconstitutional hijack by the BJP". Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of giving a "late night birthday gift" to PM Modi, claiming the move is designed to help rebels defect from Mamata Banerjee's leadership. Additionally, Congress media head Pawan Khera stated that the breakaway faction has no constitutional basis or legitimate claim to the symbol.
