Nandigram by-poll, a reset for Mamata and Congress ties

A lot happened over the past two days on Thursday (September 17, 2026) and Friday (September 18) that is likely to have a long bearing in West Bengal politics.

In the last hours on Thursday (September 17), the Election Commission of India froze the grass and twin flowers symbol and the name of All India Trinamool Congress. The Commission allocated separate symbols and names to both the rival factions of Trinamool Congress — the Mamata Banerjee faction and the Ritabrata Banerjee group. Mamata Banerjee and her loyalists were given the symbol of a football player alongside the name — Mamata All India Trinamool Congress, while the Ritabrata Banerjee faction was given the envelope symbol with the name — Democratic Trinamool Congress.