EC to decide which TMC faction is the 'real' party: Mamata vs rebels

The Election Commission of India is set to hear the dispute between two factions of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday, deciding which group is the legitimate party entitled to use its name and poll symbol. The hearing follows a petition by the faction led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a rival camp led by former party MP Mukul Roy, who recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The TMC, founded by Mamata Banerjee in 1998, is currently in power in West Bengal. However, a split occurred in 2015 when Roy, then a close aide of Banerjee, left the party along with several MLAs. Roy's faction claims to represent the real TMC, alleging that Banerjee's leadership has deviated from the party's principles. Banerjee's faction, on the other hand, asserts that the party remains united under her leadership and that Roy's group is a breakaway faction with no claim to the party name or symbol.

The Election Commission's decision will have significant implications for both factions. The winning faction will get the rights to the party name 'Trinamool Congress' and its symbol—a pair of flowers—giving it a crucial advantage in future elections. The loser will have to contest under a new name and symbol, which could affect its electoral prospects.

This is not the first time the Election Commission has been called upon to resolve a party dispute. In 2018, it adjudicated a similar case between the Shiv Sena factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde, awarding the party name and symbol to Shinde's group. Legal experts say the Commission follows a set of guidelines—including the principle of majority support among party office-bearers and legislators—to determine the 'real' party.

Mamata Banerjee's faction has submitted affidavits from a majority of TMC MPs, MLAs, and district-level office-bearers to prove its claim. The rival camp, meanwhile, has argued that internal democracy has been stifled and that Banerjee's leadership is autocratic. Both sides will present their case before the Election Commission on Monday.

The hearing is expected to be closely watched by political observers, as it could set a precedent for resolving intra-party disputes in India. A decision is likely within a few weeks after the hearing concludes.