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The Election Commission has frozen the All India Trinamool Congress name and its flowers and grass symbol ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly by-elections. In an interim order following hearings before the full bench, the commission barred both rival factions from using the party's reserved name and symbol. Both groups have been directed to submit three choices each for a new party name and free symbols by 11:00 AM on September 18. The interim order comes as by-polls approach in Nandigram and Rajanagar, with the symbol freeze set to remain in effect until the dispute is resolved.

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The Election Commission of India has directed rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress not to use the party name and the flowers and grass symbol during the upcoming West Bengal by-polls. Both factions have been asked to submit their preferred names and symbols. The Congress condemned the decision, alleging that it was an abdication of constitutional responsibility by the poll body. The Congress further termed the freezing of the name and symbol as Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's late-night birthday gift to the Prime Minister. The directive follows similar past precedents involving splits in political parties such as the Lok Janshakti Party, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party.