Who owns the twin flowers? TMC symbol war leaves Bengal by-polls in limbo

The Mamata-led faction remains equally firm, arguing that the existing organisational structure of the TMC remains valid and that the breakaway group cannot claim the party’s identity merely on the basis of its assertion of legislative support.

Senior TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has also opposed any suggestion that the Commission could freeze the symbol while the dispute continues. He argued that there was no justification for taking the established symbol away from the existing party organisation through an interim arrangement.

“The ‘jora phool’ symbol remains with Mamata Banerjee’s faction and an interim order would create unnecessary confusion just when the electoral process is under way,” he said.

TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh, meanwhile, sought to shift the focus beyond the symbol. “We strongly believe that Mamata Banerjee is bigger than the symbol,” he said, adding that voters would support her regardless of which symbol she contested under. Ghosh also alleged that the ECI was being directed by the BJP.

The immediate impact is being felt in Nandigram and Rejinagar, where both factions have fielded candidates while claiming the TMC identity. The Mamata-led faction has fielded Sanchita Pradhan Dey in Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury in Rejinagar. The Ritabrata camp has nominated Mohammad Ehteshamul Haque in Nandigram and Safiuzzaman Sheikh in Rejinagar.

The possibility of rival candidates claiming the same party name and symbol has added another layer of uncertainty to the by-polls. If the Commission does not allot the symbol to either faction pending a final resolution of the larger dispute, both could be required to contest under separate temporary names and symbols.

The issue is particularly pressing because the 6 October by-polls are approaching and the deadline for withdrawal of nominations is 19 September. The Commission’s decision could therefore determine not only which candidates appear on the ballot, but also which faction gets to present itself to voters as the TMC.

For now, however, the only certainty is that both camps remain in the contest — and the clock is ticking.