New Delhi, Sept. 17 -- The Election Commission of India's (ECI) interim order barring both rival Trinamool Congress factions from using the party's name and symbol has triggered a sharp political row, with the Congress accusing the poll panel of acting at the BJP's behest and the BJP saying that the TMC's "erasure" was inevitable after its 2026 poll defeat.

Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal condemned the order, calling it "CEC Gyanesh Kumar's late-night birthday gift to Modi ji" following what he described as an unconstitutional takeover by the BJP.

"Those who fought against the BJP, under Mamata Banerjee's leadership, are now being given the red carpet to rebel against her and commit the unconstitutional sin of def...