Two Trinamool Congress factions, each claiming to be the real party, have filed rival lists of office-bearers with the Election Commission of India (EC). The split in the party came after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a landslide victory in the April assembly election. The EC's two-wing test will now decide which faction gets to claim the party's name, assets, and symbol.
The test, which has been used to decide party splits in the past, involves weighing the rival claims on the strength of support in two arenas: elected legislators and the party's formal organisational structure. The faction with the majority in both wings will be recognised as the genuine political party.
The rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee holds 81% of TMC's legislators, giving it a strong chance of winning the test. However, the Mamata Banerjee camp has retained her as chairperson and labelled the submission the "original but minority" list.
The process could take months, with the EC issuing notices to both factions, setting a deadline for affidavits and evidence of organisational control, and conducting detailed hearings. The outcome will have significant implications for the party's future, with the recognised faction inheriting the Trinamool Congress name, symbol, and assets.
