Election Commission Freezes Trinamool Congress Symbol Following Factional Split

The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued an interim order freezing the reserved symbol "flowers and grass" and official name of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) following a formal split between competing intra-party factions.

The ECI exercises powers under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, to decide disputes among splinter groups or factions of a recognized political party. When rival factions present conflicting claims of majority support, the ECI freezes the symbol to ensure a level playing field during upcoming elections.

In its interim order, the Commission directed both rival factions to select distinct new party names and temporary symbols from the list of free symbols for upcoming by-polls. The ECI has directed both groups to submit organizational and legislative numerical support evidence to determine the ultimate recognition.

This legal step underlines the ECI's constitutional authority under Article 324 over political party regulation. For UPSC Mains GS-2 (Polity & Governance) and SSC exams, it highlights key provisions of the Election Symbols Order 1968, party split thresholds, and anti-defection frameworks.