Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI) after the poll panel temporarily froze the use of the Trinamool Congress' name and its “Flowers and Grass” election symbol ahead of the West Bengal bypolls.

The ECI's interim order bars rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) from using the party's name and its established election symbol for the upcoming Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls scheduled for October 6.

The Commission said the measure was intended to keep both rival groups on an even footing while the leadership dispute is resolved.

Reacting to the decision, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP and the Election Commission were working together to split opposition parties and subsequently take away their election symbols.

In a post on X, Gandhi referred to earlier disputes involving the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party, and said the developments represented what he described as “party theft” alongside “vote theft” and “government theft.” His remarks are political allegations and have been disputed by the institutions and parties involved.

Gandhi also alleged that the ECI was failing in its constitutional responsibility to protect the electoral mandate. He said the issue extended beyond the Trinamool Congress and concerned political parties and voters seeking free and fair elections.

What The ECI Order Says

According to the interim order, neither of the two rival groups would be allowed to use the name “All India Trinamool Congress” or the “Flowers and Grass” symbol during the bypolls.

The two factions have instead been asked to contest using separate names and symbols chosen from the list of free symbols notified by the Election Commission for the by-elections.

The order followed a hearing at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi, where representatives of the rival factions presented their final submissions.

The Election Commission's decision is an interim measure, meaning the dispute over the party's identity and leadership remains unresolved.

The development has triggered a political reaction ahead of the October 6 bypolls, with opposition leaders questioning the Election Commission's decision while the poll panel has described the arrangement as a measure to ensure a level playing field between the rival groups.