Ritabrata-led TMC delegation leaves for Delhi to meet ECI over party name, symbol dispute

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], September 17 (ANI): A delegation led by West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee left for Delhi to meet the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday in connection with the dispute over the Trinamool Congress' (TMC) name and election symbol.
Clarifying reports about the meeting, Ritabrata Banerjee said there had been a misunderstanding regarding the information sought by the Election Commission and the dates of the proceedings.
He said that there was no meeting scheduled with the ECI on September 16 or 17, saying his delegation had now been called by the poll panel after submitting the final documents as instructed. 
Speaking to the reporters in Kolkata, Ritabrata said, "There was some misunderstanding regarding what information the Election Commission of India had sought. Someone had incorrectly written that there was a meeting scheduled for September 16 and 17, and the media also reported it.”
“There was never any meeting scheduled for September 16 or 17. We submitted the final documents by 3 PM on September 16, as instructed. We were told that if required, we would be called again, and we have now been called. Our delegation is going there. We will meet the Election Commission of India as we have been invited to do so,” he further said. 
The ECI may take a decision today on the dispute over the Trinamool Congress' name and election symbol between the two factions.
The delegation includes Ritabrata Banerjee, Akhruzzaman, Arup Roy, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Riju Datta.
Ritabrata heads a group of around 60 of the 80 newly elected TMC MLAs who distanced themselves from former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the party's defeat to the BJP in the Assembly polls held in April.
Both factions have staked a claim to being the “real” Trinamool Congress and approached the Election Commission seeking recognition as the party's legitimate leadership.
With the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly bypolls approaching in West Bengal, the dispute between the two Trinamool Congress factions over the party's name and election symbol has intensified. 
Polling will be conducted on October 6, while counting of votes will take place on October 9. The Election Commission stated that the entire election process is scheduled to be completed before October 11. (ANI)