Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently directed criticism toward the Trinamool Congress (TMC) following the Election Commission’s decision to assign the party a 'football player' symbol for the October 6 by-elections in West Bengal. The symbol was granted to the faction led by Mamata Banerjee.

Sarma utilized the imagery of the football symbol to launch a political jab, stating that the party's prospects would 'deflate' like a ball. This comment was made in the context of ongoing political tensions between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of which Sarma is a prominent leader, and the Trinamool Congress. While the TMC has secured the symbol for the immediate electoral cycle, Sarma’s remarks reflect the broader strategy of BJP leaders to challenge the TMC’s political standing in West Bengal. The TMC has not yet issued a formal rebuttal to Sarma's specific choice of words regarding the symbol, focusing instead on their campaign preparations for the bypolls.