India's Election Commission has frozen the electoral symbol of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the ruling party of West Bengal state in eastern India, ahead of upcoming by-elections in the region. The move has drawn sharp criticism from party figures, with leader Ritabrata Banerjee denouncing the decision as an act of dictatorship. The symbol freeze could complicate the TMC's campaign efforts in the bypolls, as parties rely heavily on recognised symbols for voter recognition, particularly in areas with lower literacy rates.