Mamata Banerjee urges Election Commission to end TMC symbol dispute
Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Election Commission Secretary Ashwani Kumar Mohal, urging the commission to conclude its inquiry into the Trinamool Congress (TMC) name, election symbol and organisational control. The dispute involves a rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, which the commission has repeatedly extended deadlines for.
The commission initially set a July 6, 2026 deadline for the TMC to submit its response, which the party met and also sent a copy to Ritabrata Banerjee on the same day. Ritabrata was first given until July 10, 2026 to reply, and after a request was granted an additional 15‑day extension to July 25, 2026. As of that date, the commission had not confirmed whether Ritabrata had responded, nor provided a copy of any reply.
Banerjee argued that further extensions would allow the rival faction to fabricate false evidence and stressed that the matter has serious political ramifications for West Bengal, asking that no further time be granted and that the investigation be wrapped up promptly.
Entities: All India Trinamool Congress · Ashwani Kumar Mohal · Ashwani Mohal · Election Commission of India · Mamata Banerjee · Ritabrata Banerjee · Trinamool Congress (TMC)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Election Commission set a deadline of 6 July 2026 for the TMC to submit its response to the dispute. (Mamata Banerjee urges EC to end ‘TMC dispute’ inquiry - The Shillong Times)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Election Commission Secretary Ashwani Kumar Mohal urging the commission to conclude the inquiry into the TMC's name, symbol and organisational control. (Mamata Banerjee urges EC to end ‘TMC dispute’ inquiry - The Shillong Times)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The TMC submitted its response on 6 July 2026 and sent a copy to Ritabrata Banerjee via email and speed post. (Mamata Banerjee urges EC to end ‘TMC dispute’ inquiry - The Shillong Times)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] As of 25 July 2026, the Election Commission had not informed the TMC whether Ritabrata Banerjee had submitted a reply, nor provided a copy if he did. (Mamata Banerjee urges EC to end ‘TMC dispute’ inquiry - The Shillong Times)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The inquiry concerns a dispute between the TMC and a rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee. (Mamata Banerjee urges EC to end ‘TMC dispute’ inquiry - The Shillong Times)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Mamata Banerjee argued that further extensions would allow the rival faction to fabricate false evidence and stressed that the dispute has serious political ramifications in West Bengal. (Mamata Banerjee urges EC to end ‘TMC dispute’ inquiry - The Shillong Times)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Election Commission extended the deadline for the rival faction twice: first to 10 July 2026, then to 25 July 2026. (Mamata Banerjee urges EC to end ‘TMC dispute’ inquiry - The Shillong Times)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The commission gave Ritabrata Banerjee an initial deadline of 10 July 2026, later extending it to 25 July 2026 after a request. (Mamata Banerjee urges EC to end ‘TMC dispute’ inquiry - The Shillong Times)