EC accepts TMC split, freezes name, symbol in interim order

NEW DELHI: Election Commission Friday froze All India Trinamool Congress's reserved "flowers and grass" poll symbol after acknowledging a split between factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy.Pending final settlement, neither faction can use AITC's name or symbol. For Oct 6 assembly bypolls in Rejinagar and Nandigram, where both have fielded candidates under TMC's name, each may choose a different name linked to AITC and a symbol from EC's free-symbol list. The groups must submit three name and symbol options in order of preference by 11am Friday.