The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide a clear timeline for deciding the dispute between rival factions of the Trinamool Congress over the party’s name and election symbol. The court has asked the poll panel to provide the information by Monday, September 28.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, was hearing a petition filed by Mamata Banerjee challenging the ECI’s interim decision to freeze the use of the name “All India Trinamool Congress” and the party’s traditional “Flowers and Grass” symbol.
The Supreme Court noted that the by-election process in West Bengal has already begun and said the ongoing elections could not be disturbed. The court also observed that the ECI has the authority to issue interim directions while a dispute is pending before it.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mamata Banerjee, told the court that he was not seeking a stay on the upcoming bypolls. He requested that the main dispute be decided quickly, pointing out that the ECI proceedings had begun several months ago.
The bench suggested that one possible way forward could be for the ECI to conduct hearings on a day-to-day basis and complete the adjudication within a reasonable timeframe. However, lawyers representing the rival faction opposed the suggestion, arguing that the dispute involves evidence and would require adequate time for both sides to present their cases.
The ECI had earlier frozen the original party name and symbol following a dispute between rival factions. For the upcoming bypolls, the poll panel allotted separate identities to the two groups. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction was given 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 dispute has emerged ahead of the October 6 West Bengal Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar. The Supreme Court will hear the matter again on September 28 after receiving the ECI’s response on the expected timeline for a final decision.
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