Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s interim decision to freeze the party’s original name and election symbol amid a dispute between rival factions.
Banerjee filed the petition on Friday, a day after the Election Commission directed the two factions to stop using the original “All India Trinamool Congress” name and its reserved symbol and instead select alternative names and symbols. The petition names the Election Commission and the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee as respondents.
The dispute comes ahead of the West Bengal bypolls scheduled for early October. The Election Commission’s decision was taken after rival claims over control of the Trinamool Congress and its organisational identity.
Following the Commission’s interim order, both factions were asked to suggest alternative names and symbols. The poll panel subsequently allotted separate identities to the two groups.
The faction led by Mamata Banerjee was given the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and allotted the “football player” symbol. The rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee was recognised as “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and allotted the “envelope” symbol.
The Election Commission’s Symbols Order provides the framework for resolving disputes concerning recognised political parties and their election symbols. The Supreme Court has previously upheld the constitutional validity of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order and recognised the Election Commission's authority in matters concerning election symbols.
The petition filed by Mamata Banerjee challenges the Election Commission’s interim action and seeks judicial intervention in the dispute. The matter, however, has not yet been numbered and registered by the Supreme Court. A hearing will take place after the petition completes the necessary procedural steps.
The controversy has created uncertainty over the electoral identities that the rival factions will use during the upcoming bypolls. The Election Commission’s decision means that voters in the constituencies concerned will see the newly allotted names and symbols on the ballot or electronic voting machine unless the order is subsequently changed.
The two groups have been recognised as political parties in West Bengal as well as in Tripura and Meghalaya, according to the report.
The latest development follows a series of disputes over the party’s name, symbol and organisational control. The Election Commission is responsible for allotting and regulating reserved election symbols under the existing electoral framework.
The Supreme Court’s response to Banerjee’s petition could determine whether the Election Commission’s interim arrangement remains in place during the bypoll process. For now, the rival factions are required to operate under the names and symbols allotted by the poll panel.
The case is expected to attract attention because the dispute directly concerns the electoral identity of one of West Bengal’s major political organisations ahead of the upcoming bypolls.
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