Guwahati: Trinamool Congress candidate Abdul Salam has refused to change his election symbol ahead of the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, amid the Election Commission’s interim decision to freeze the party’s original name and “Flowers & Grass” symbol.

Salam had filed his nomination as the TMC candidate for the October 6 bypoll. The development has now put his candidature in uncertainty, as his nomination was filed under the party’s original name and symbol.

The Election Commission on September 17 temporarily froze the use of the “All India Trinamool Congress” name and its “Flowers & Grass” symbol following an internal dispute between rival factions of the party.

On Friday, the Commission allotted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol, while the rival faction was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol.

The Assam unit of the TMC subsequently announced its decision to withdraw from the Nagaon bypoll in protest against the EC order. However, Salam has rejected the appeal to change his symbol, leaving the status of his candidature to be determined through the election process.