After the interim order of the Election Commission (EC) on the name and election symbol of Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has directly raised questions on the Election Commission and BJP. Now Arvind Kejriwal of Aam Aadmi Party is also seen standing with Rahul Gandhi on this issue. The interesting thing is that Rahul Gandhi not only mentioned TMC but also the old disputes of Shiv Sena and NCP.
In fact, the interim decision of the Election Commission on the organizational dispute of Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal has created a new political issue in national politics. On September 17, the Election Commission barred both TMC factions (Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy) from using the name ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ and the reserved election symbol of ‘flowers and grass’ for the time being. Options for new names and free symbols have been sought from both the groups.
Rahul said- same pattern everywhere
The Election Commission has made it clear that this is an interim arrangement and the final decision on the original dispute under Para 15 will be taken later and after this decision, the reaction in opposition politics intensified. Rahul Gandhi did not consider this decision as just an organizational dispute of TMC. He said that first Shiv Sena, then NCP and now TMC… Rahul Gandhi alleged that the same pattern is seen every time.
Rahul Gandhi- This party is theft
Rahul Gandhi further said, ‘BJP and Election Commission are working together to break political parties and snatch their election symbols.’ Linking it to vote theft and party theft, Rahul Gandhi said that the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission is to protect the mandate. Rahul’s message is not limited to Mamata Banerjee only. He also linked together the old disputes of various regional parties in which there was a fight over party and election symbol.
First Shiv Sena, then NCP and now Trinamool Congress.
Same pattern every time – BJP and Election Commission together break a party. Then his election symbol is snatched away.
When an entire party can be stolen, then it is not surprising that the votes of crores of Indians are stolen.
Vote theft. Government theft.
—Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 18, 2026
AAP supported Rahul
Interesting thing is that on the issue on which Rahul Gandhi raised his voice, support has also come from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal targeted BJP and Election Commission by tweeting. Recently, 7 Rajya Sabha MPs of AAP had changed sides. 7 MPs including Raghav Chadha, Harbhanjan Singh had joined BJP. After this, Arvind Kejriwal accused BJP of breaking the party.
Modi ji’s gift to the country on his birthday. Will we win the elections like this? pic.twitter.com/smihbrJIv1
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 18, 2026
Sanjay Raut in support of Mamta
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut also tweeted, ‘Maharashtra and Marathi leadership has always played an important role in Indian politics… Mamata Banerjee established Trinamool Congress on the basis of her struggle, hard work and strength and took it forward. Trinamool Congress has played an important role in state politics as well as national politics. Just as Shiv Sena was Balasaheb Thackeray’s party and NCP is Sharad Pawar’s party, in the same way. Trinamool Congress is Mamata Banerjee’s party…’
Accusations against Amit Shah
Accusing BJP, Sanjay Raut said, ‘Amit Shah is working to break parties, buy MLAs and MPs and put pressure on the Election Commission.’ Raut said that the existence of the original party and its election symbol should remain intact. Citing the Tenth Schedule, he said that its provisions are being ignored. According to him, in the case of Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar’s NCP, a dispute has come to light regarding the existence of the parent party.
‘Mamata Banerjee is the real owner of TMC’
Regarding the election symbol of Trinamool Congress (TMC), Raut said that there was no need to freeze it, because the party belongs to Mamata Banerjee. He said that Mamata Banerjee should get relief in the dispute related to the election symbol and her election symbol should remain in the hands of the parent party. Sanjay Raut said that the leader may be good, but the real owner of the party and its election symbol is Mamata Banerjee and she should remain the same.
Kanimozhi met Mamta
On September 17, DMK MP Kanimozhi met Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. Before this, Kanimozhi met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. After this, he also talked to leaders associated with Sharad Pawar’s party NCP (SP). In these meetings, information has come to light that issues like delimitation and coordination between opposition parties were discussed. In the last few months, there was speculation about Sharad Pawar joining NDA, but till now he is a part of INDIA.
What is the real question?
After the decision on TMC, it is clear from the rhetoric of the opposition leaders that now the question is not only that when will TMC get the name and symbol… The question is also whether the Election Commission’s decision has given the opposition parties an issue on which Congress and regional parties can raise their voice together? On one hand, Rahul Gandhi is linking the issue of TMC with the old disputes of Shiv Sena and NCP… on the other hand, there are indications of support from AAP as well… and on the third hand, DMK’s Kanimozhi is continuously meeting the leaders of regional parties.
