Background
The party was formed after a split in All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) following the party's loss in the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election. Ritabrata Banerjee, a first-time MLA who was later expelled by the AITC, led the breakaway faction. He claimed the support of between 58 and 65 of the party's 80 MLAs in the state Assembly at various points, a figure contested by supporters of Mamata Banerjee, the longtime leader of AITC.
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.
Election Commission ruling
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.
