New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) is likely to come out with an interim order on Trinamool Congress' (TMC) election symbol on Thursday, as rival factions of the party have fielded candidates on the same symbol in the October 6 assembly by-polls. 'Two flowers on grass top' is the official symbol of the party.
The poll body will meet on Thursday and both TMC factions have been asked to remain present, EC functionaries said.
The poll authority has so far not issued a formal declaration accepting a dispute in the TMC.
The party's poll symbol may either be allowed for one faction or none, a functionary said, adding that the EC may have other options too.
The two rival factions led by former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee have fielded competing candidates for the bypolls to Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly seats, with both using the official party symbol.
Wednesday was the deadline for both the factions to submit documents to support their respective claims. It was also the last date to file nomination papers for the by-polls.
The nomination papers will be scrutinised on Thursday, when the poll authority is likely to take an ad hoc decision keeping in mind the by-polls, the functionaries said.
The EC is hearing rival claims over the TMC's control, including the validity of its existing organisational structure and authorised signatories, ahead of the by-polls.
The dispute goes back to June 22, when West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee convened a meeting of rebel leaders and announced the formation of a new National Working Committee, with Arup Roy being elected its chairperson.
Ritabrata had claimed that the party was facing a "constitutional crisis", arguing that Article 20 of the TMC Constitution required the National Working Committee to be constituted every three years.
He said the previous committee, formed in February 2022, had completed its tenure in February 2025 and had not been renewed.
The Mamata Banerjee-led party has maintained that the rival faction was relying on an outdated provision and overlooking subsequent amendments to the party constitution.
The TMC also disputed the rival faction's claim regarding the composition of the party, saying public notices were issued during the organisational election process and all MPs and MLAs were made members of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).
It further said that the June 22 meeting could not constitute a valid organisational exercise as the prescribed multi-tier process for constituting the party's organisational committees was not followed.
The Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction has maintained that its June 22 meeting was held in accordance with the party constitution and has said the EC would decide which side was legitimate.