Suvendu Adhikari Reacts to TMC Symbol Freeze Following Election Commission Directive: termed the crisis a "Lord Ram's curse"

PTI, September 18, 2026, Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday termed the crisis in the TMC a "result of arrogance" and "Lord Ram's curse", while asserting that the BJP had no role in the Election Commission's decision to freeze the party's name and election symbol.

The Mamata Banerjee-led faction of Trinamool Congress on Friday got the name ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’, while its rival group led by Arup Roy assigned the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress’ ahead of the October 6 bypolls to two assembly constituencies in West Bengal, an EC order said.

"The Commission's decision was taken according to the rules, and after hearing all sides. She (Mamata Banerjee) could not keep her own party united. The party has split into two, three, four factions. She herself is responsible for this. The BJP has no direct role in it," he said.

Taking a swipe at the TMC leadership, Adhikari quoted from a Sanskrit verse and said “whoever has arrogance, the Almighty will destroy that arrogance”.

The CM also attributed the present situation in the TMC to its past statements and political position, asserting that the party had hurt religious sentiments.

"Calling Hinduism a dirty religion, calling the Maha Kumbh a death Kumbh, and taking out a procession on the day of the Ram temple consecration saying 'we do not accept the Ram temple'... Everything has been destroyed by the curse of Lord Ram," Adhikari said.

He made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Vishwakarma Puja programme at the state secretariat.

The EC order came after the poll panel heard both sides locked in a dispute over who gets to use the party name and its symbol.

In an interim order issued on Thursday night, the EC directed the two sides not to use the party name, All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), and its ‘Jora Ghash Phul’ (two flowers with grass) symbol for the bypolls, and asked them to submit their preferred names and emblems by Friday morning.

The EC said the proposed names could be similar to AITC, while the symbols must be chosen from a list of free or available symbols notified for Independents and registered unrecognised political parties.