New Delhi, Sept. 18: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Election Commission of India over its interim decision to freeze the Trinamool Congress name and election symbol.
Gandhi made the remarks in a post on X on Friday.
He alleged that the country had witnessed “vote theft”, “government theft” and now “party theft”.
Gandhi accused the BJP and the Election Commission of working together to split opposition parties and remove their election symbols.
He referred to earlier disputes involving the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party.
Rahul Gandhi Questions ECI Action Against TMC
The Election Commission barred rival TMC factions from using the party’s name and “Flowers and Grass” symbol in upcoming bypolls.
The Commission said the interim arrangement followed competing claims by two factions over control of the party, its name and symbol.
पहले शिवसेना, फिर NCP और अब तृणमूल कांग्रेस।
हर बार एक ही पैटर्न – BJP और चुनाव आयोग मिलकर एक पार्टी को तोड़ते हैं। फिर उसका चुनाव चिन्ह छीन लिया जाता है।
जब पूरी की पूरी पार्टी चोरी हो सकती है, तो करोड़ों भारतीयों के वोट चोरी होना भी हैरानी की बात नहीं।
वोट चोरी। सरकार चोरी।…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 18, 2026
Both factions were directed to submit alternative names and free symbols for the bypolls.
Gandhi said the ECI’s constitutional responsibility was to protect the mandate given by voters.
He alleged that the poll panel was instead helping forces seeking to overturn the people’s verdict.
Gandhi also said the issue was not limited to TMC or its leadership.
He described it as a fight involving political parties and voters seeking free and fair elections.
The Election Commission’s interim order will apply while the dispute over the party’s identity and symbol is considered.
The order affects the upcoming West Bengal bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, scheduled for October 6.
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