EC Freezing TMC Name, Symbol 'Black Day for Democracy': Mamata Vows to Fight

Kolkata: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission over its decision to freeze the Trinamool Congress' name and symbol, calling it a "black day" in the country's democratic history and vowing to fight the move politically, democratically and legally.

Hours after the poll panel allotted her faction the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and the 'Football Player' symbol for the October 6 bypolls, Banerjee said she would not accept the interim arrangement as a settlement and asserted that she would fight to reclaim the party's original identity and the flowers-and-grass symbol.

She said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AAP's Arvind Kejriwal have contacted her following the development.

The Election Commission on Friday allotted separate names and symbols to the two rival factions following its interim decision a day earlier to bar both groups from using the 'All India Trinamool Congress' name and its reserved symbol pending a substantive determination of the dispute. The rival faction led by Arup Roy was allotted the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and the 'Envelope' symbol.

The development came amid a dramatic political churn in Bengal, with Banerjee's faction also deciding to extend support to the Congress in the Nandigram bypoll after its candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew her nomination following a meeting with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Banerjee said the decision was aimed at strengthening the INDIA bloc.

"Even then, we do not disrespect the Constitution or constitutional institutions. But we feel that today is a Black Day in the democratic history of our country," she said, describing the EC action as "unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic and completely biased" and alleging a political vendetta.

Banerjee questioned the timing of the decision, pointing out that the by-election process was already underway, nominations had been completed and candidates had submitted their symbols.

"We consider the present decision to be interim and unjust, and we will challenge it. The by-election process is already underway... Why was such a drastic decision taken at this stage and at such short notice?" she said.

Banerjee said her faction had submitted alternative names and symbols only because the electoral process could not be halted, insisting that doing so did not amount to accepting the EC's decision.

"We will not surrender. We will not bow our heads before political pressure. We will fight this battle democratically and legally," she said.

The former chief minister framed the dispute as one over the political identity of an organisation she had built over nearly three decades, stressing that the twin-flower symbol had been associated with the party for 28 years.

"I cannot leave the All India Trinamool Congress. It is a party I founded and built through 29 years of struggle, sacrifice and political battles. As long as I am alive, this party will remain part of me, and it will remain with our workers," she said.

Banerjee also questioned the organisational claims of the rival camp, saying her faction had submitted documents relating to elections held from the grassroots to the national level.

She alleged that the rival side had not conducted a comparable organisational election and rejected its claim to the party's identity.

Referring to the EC proceedings, she also questioned the circumstances surrounding a meeting at a city hotel involving a poll panel team and members of the rival faction, claiming only a few people had signed documents and asserting that there had been no equivalent organisational exercise from the block to the national level.

The TMC chief also widened her attack, accusing the BJP of seeking to weaken opposition parties and drawing parallels with political developments in Maharashtra involving the Shiv Sena and NCP.

"First they broke the party of Uddhav Thackeray and then the NCP. Now, they are after us," she said.

She alleged that central agencies and other institutions had been used against opposition parties and claimed that her workers had faced arrests and cases.

These allegations were part of a broader charge that institutions were being used for political purposes, which she said had created a crisis for democracy and constitutional rights.

Invoking several Articles of the Constitution, Banerjee argued that political parties and citizens were entitled to organise and move freely.

"I consider myself a common citizen. Even as an ordinary citizen, I have the right to freedom," the former chief minister said.

She also accused some former associates who had crossed over to the BJP of doing so in return for political protection and relief from cases, referring to what she described as "washing machine" politics.

She alleged that people facing corruption charges were subsequently treated differently after changing political allegiance.

Banerjee sought to turn the enforced change of identity into a rallying point for her supporters, saying,

"If anyone truly loved Trinamool, they would not try to take away its identity or symbol. The twin-flower symbol was built with blood, struggle, sacrifice and the love of Maa, Mati, Manush," she said.

Banerjee also signalled that the immediate electoral battle would not be confined to the new party identity.

She said her faction would support Congress in Nandigram and Assam in the larger national interest and to strengthen the INDIA alliance.

"Rahul ji has spoken to me. Arvind ji and other leaders have also communicated with us. We will fight this political battle together," she said.

The Congress had earlier rejected an alleged proposal from the TMC to leave the Nandigram seat to it, while the TMC had denied making such an offer.

"Chains cannot last forever. One day, those chains will be broken, and the people of this country will once again experience genuine freedom," she said.

The Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly bypolls are scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9.