TMC row: EC seeks more documents from Ritabrata faction as Mamata camp makes its case

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Saturday sought more documents from the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction in the dispute over rival claims to the Trinamool Congress, as the Mamata Banerjee-led faction also appeared before the poll panel.

Banerjee, the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, said the delegation made oral submissions before the full EC bench and responded to its queries. It also showed some documents during the deliberations, following which the commission asked it to furnish additional papers before the day is out.

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The hearing takes place amid a dispute between the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress and the Ritabrata faction over the party's organisational control and claim to its name and symbol.

Representatives of the Mamata Banerjee-led faction are also meeting the EC on Saturday. Its five-member delegation comprises Derek O'Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Sagarika Ghose, Saket Gokhale and advocate Abhinav Singh.

The EC hearing becomes significant as it comes ahead of bypolls to Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly seats on October 6, with September 16 being the last date for filing nominations.

Asked whether the Ritabrata faction had received any assurance on a decision on the symbol before the nominations close, Banerjee said it had specifically requested the EC to decide the matter before the deadline.

"We have played our role. We have made our submission. We will be giving some more documents today itself. Now we have to wait for the highest apex body to give a ruling," Banerjee said.

He said the faction was confident of getting the TMC symbol.