TMC Rebel Faction Meets ECI to Stake Claim Over Party Symbol Today in Delhi

July 2, 2026

Kolkata: A delegation of 10 legislators from the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress is scheduled to appear before the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi on Thursday. The meeting is expected to focus on the group’s claim over the party’s official election symbol, organisational control and financial assets.

The delegation had earlier sought an appointment with the Commission, which has now agreed to hear the faction’s arguments. Members of the rebel camp departed for the national capital on Wednesday evening ahead of the scheduled hearing.

Internal Rift Deepens Within Trinamool Congress

The political confrontation within the Trinamool Congress intensified after the rebel legislators announced the formation of a new National Working Committee on June 22.

According to the rebel faction, the newly constituted body comprises 30 members along with a 10-member sub-committee. In a significant organisational move, the committee reportedly removed former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from the post of national chairperson and appointed senior legislator Arup Roy to the position.

The development has escalated the internal power struggle, with both factions asserting legitimacy over the party’s leadership and organisational structure.

Legal Documents Already Submitted to Election Commission

Ahead of Thursday’s meeting, the rebel faction’s legal team has already submitted resolutions, organisational records and other relevant documents before the Election Commission.

The delegation is expected to argue that it represents the majority within the party’s legislative wing and therefore deserves recognition as the legitimate faction entitled to use the party’s official name and election symbol.

Numbers Game Forms Core of Symbol Dispute

The rebel camp claims that it currently enjoys the support of 60 out of the 80 Trinamool Congress MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly, while the faction loyal to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee has the backing of only 20 legislators.

Based on these numbers, the rebel leaders contend that they represent the majority of the legislative party and should be recognised accordingly by the Election Commission.

Election Symbol at Centre of Legal Battle

The dispute primarily revolves around the ownership of the Trinamool Congress’s election symbol and party identity.

The rebel camp has cited provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, arguing that recognition of a political party depends on meeting prescribed electoral requirements.

According to the faction’s calculations, with more than 60 legislators allegedly supporting their camp, their cumulative electoral strength exceeds the threshold required under the Commission’s guidelines. They estimate that even with an average of 80,000 votes per MLA, their combined support would amount to approximately 48 lakh votes, comfortably crossing the six percent benchmark calculated from the total votes polled in the previous Assembly election.

The rival faction, according to the rebels, would not reach the same threshold based on the number of legislators currently backing it.

Election Commission Yet to Deliver Verdict

While the Election Commission is scheduled to hear the submissions of the rebel delegation, it has not announced any decision regarding the competing claims over the party’s organisation, symbol or assets.

The outcome of the proceedings could play a significant role in determining the future organisational structure and political identity of the Trinamool Congress if the claims are found to be legally maintainable.