Democratic Trinamool Congress | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | DTC |
| Leader | Ritabrata Banerjee |
| Founder | Ritabrata Banerjee |
| Founded | 18 September 2026 |
| Split from | Trinamool Congress |
| Headquarters | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Colours | Blue |
| ECI Status | Registered-Unrecognised |
| Seats in West Bengal Legislative Assembly | 66 / 294 |
| Election symbol | |
 | |
The Democratic Trinamool Congress (abbreviated DTC lit. 'Democratic Grassroots Congress') is a political party based in the Indian state of West Bengal. It was a breakaway faction of the Trinamool Congress, formed in September 2026 by Ritabrata Banerjee, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.[1]
Background[edit | edit source]
The party was formed after a split in All India Trinamool Congress following the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election loss. Ritabrata Banerjee, a first-time MLA who was later expelled by the TMC. Due to interime accusitions, led the breakaway faction. He claimed the support of between 58 l 65 of the party's 80 MLAs in the state Assembly at various points, a figure contested by the Mamata Banerjee camp.[2][3][4]
On 18 September 2026, the Election Commission of India allotted the name Gonotantrik Trinamool Congress, also referred to as Democratic Trinamool Congress, and the election symbol of an envelope to the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee. The faction led by Mamata Banerjee was allotted the name "Mamata All India Trinamool Congress" and the "football player" symbol. The ECI recognized both factions as registered political parties in West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura for the purposes of the bypolls.[5] [6]
Election Commission ruling[edit | edit source]
On 18 September 2026, the Election Commission of India froze the name "All India Trinamool Congress" and its symbol "Flowers and Grass" under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, after two rival groups staked their claim to be the genuine party. The Commission ruled that a substantive determination was needed, and an interim arrangement ensured equal standing during the dispute. Both groups were ordered to submit three preferred names and symbols.[7][8]
Leadership[edit | edit source]
- Ritabrata Banerjee – Leader of the Opposition, West Bengal Legislative Assembly
- Arup Roy – Chairperson, National Working Committee
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "রিতব্রতর টিএমসি পেল গণতান্ত্রিক তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস নাম, প্রতীকে খাম" [Ritabrata's TMC gets the name Ganatantrik Trinamool Congress, envelope as symbol]. TV9 Bangla (in Bengali). 18 September 2026. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
- ↑ "Trinamool Does A 'Shinde' On Mamata? Ritabrata Banerjee Secures 59 MLA Signatures, Meets Speaker". News18. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
- ↑ "West Bengal Speaker Approves TMC's Expelled Legislator Ritabrata Banerjee As Leader Of Opposition". ABP Live. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
- ↑ "Notices issued to 10 rebel TMC MLAs in West Bengal: Assembly Secretariat seeks response over disqualification petition within 7 days". Bhaskar English. 16 September 2026. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
- ↑ "Election Commission Allots 'Football Player' Symbol To Mamata Faction; Ritabrata Group Gets 'Envelope' Symbol". ETV Bharat. 18 September 2026. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
- ↑ "TMC becomes 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress'; Didi gets football player as symbol". The Times of India. 18 September 2026. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
- ↑ "EC accepts TMC split, freezes name, symbol in interim order". The Times of India. 18 September 2026. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
- ↑ "Mamata Faction Submits New Choices To EC After TMC Name-Symbol Freeze For Bengal Bypoll". The Times of India. 18 September 2026. Retrieved 18 September 2026.