Mamata Banerjee Approaches Supreme Court Over ECI Action Against TMC’s Election Symbol

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s interim decision to freeze the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) name and its traditional “Flowers and Grass” election symbol amid a dispute with a rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.

Mamata filed the petition on Friday, a day after the poll panel barred both factions from using the original party name and symbol for the upcoming bypolls. The ECI had directed the rival groups to select alternative names and symbols while the dispute over the party’s identity and control remains pending.

Mamata Challenges Election Commission Order

The Supreme Court plea seeks to challenge the ECI’s September 17 interim order. The commission had said that neither the Mamata Banerjee-led faction nor the Ritabrata Banerjee-led group could use the AITC name or the reserved “Flowers and Grass” symbol for the time being.

The decision was taken ahead of the October 6 bypolls in West Bengal’s Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies and Assam’s Nagaon parliamentary constituency. The ECI had asked both factions to submit preferred temporary names and symbols for the contests.

New Names and Symbols Allotted

Following the ECI’s interim arrangement, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” along with the “Football Player” symbol.

The faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol. These arrangements are intended for the upcoming electoral process and do not represent a final determination over which faction is entitled to the original party name and symbol.

Supreme Court Challenge Comes Ahead of Bypolls

The dispute over the TMC’s organisational control and election symbol has intensified ahead of the bypolls. The ECI has described its interim measure as a way to keep the rival groups on an equal footing while the broader dispute is considered.

Mamata’s petition names the Election Commission and Ritabrata Banerjee among the respondents. The Supreme Court challenge now puts the poll panel’s interim arrangement before the judiciary, while the underlying dispute over the party’s name, symbol and organisational control remains unresolved.