Rahul Gandhi Calls Mamata Banerjee After EC Freezes TMC Name, Symbol: ‘We Are In This Together’

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi spoke with Mamata Banerjee in a late-night phone call following the Election Commission’s decision to freeze.

The use of the Trinamool Congress’ original name and election symbol for the upcoming West Bengal bypolls. According to sources, Gandhi told Banerjee that he was prepared to provide whatever assistance was needed. The two leaders also discussed the possibility of greater coordination between their parties in the future.

“Let Bengal show the way for a united INDIA bloc to oust BJP,” Banerjee told Gandhi, according to the sources. She also said, “We are in this together. We want the BJP to be removed.”

The Election Commission’s interim decision came amid a dispute between rival TMC factions over control of the party. On Friday, the poll panel allotted separate names and symbols to the two groups for the upcoming by-elections.

Mamata Backs Congress in Nandigram

The political developments coincided with a change in the contest for the Nandigram bypoll. Mamata Banerjee announced support for the Congress candidate after Sanchita Pradhan Dey, who had been nominated by her faction, withdrew from the race.

Pradhan Dey, a teacher, met Banerjee at the West Bengal secretariat, Nabanna, on Friday afternoon. She was accompanied by her husband, Satyajit, before subsequently withdrawing her candidature.

The move came amid continuing discussions about coordination between opposition parties in the state.

EC Assigns New Names and Symbols

The Election Commission had earlier barred both rival groups from using the “All India Trinamool Congress” name and the party’s traditional “Flowers and Grass” symbol during the bypolls. The panel said the interim arrangement was required while it examines the competing claims over the party’s identity.

The faction led by Mamata Banerjee has now been allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol.

The rival faction has been allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol. The new identities are intended for the upcoming bypolls while the larger dispute remains pending before the Election Commission.

The Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies are scheduled to vote on October 6.

The developments have brought the TMC’s internal dispute and opposition coordination in West Bengal into sharper focus, with the upcoming bypolls set to be contested under the newly allotted party identities.