Almost 28 years after Mamata Banerjee set up the All India Trinamool Congress and designed its symbol of ‘grass and flowers’, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on September 17, 2026, froze the party’s name and symbol. The 14-page order stated that since two rival groups — one led by Ms. Banerjee and the other by Arup Roy — are now claiming to be the party, the matter requires “substantive determination”, and neither group can use the party’s name or symbol.