Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress party of burning the Trinamool Congress after the Election Commission froze the party's name and symbol on 26 March 2024. The move follows the Election Commission's decision to split the TMC into two factions, each assigned a new name and symbol.
The Mamata Banerjee‑led faction received the name "Mamata All India Trinamool Congress" and the football player symbol, while Arup Roy's group got "Democratic Trinamool Congress" and the envelope symbol.
Rahul Gandhi blasted the BJP and the Election Commission for orchestrating splits, citing Shiv Sena, NCP, and now TMC as examples.
Banerjee called the decision unconstitutional and announced support for the Congress candidate in the Nandigram bypoll, but the nominee was later arrested in a murder case.
In Nandigram, 50‑year‑old farmer Ramesh Kumar said he feared the bypoll would leave his village without representation, as the party shift left voters confused.
A court hearing on the TMC name dispute is set for 15 April 2024, and the Election Commission may revise its decision pending the ruling.