TMC Name-Symbol Row: Mamata Banerjee Moves Supreme Court Against ECI’s Interim Order
Mamata Banerjee moved the Supreme Court challenging the ECI’s interim order on the TMC name and ‘Flowers & Grass’ symbol
Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress founder Mamata Banerjee has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) interim order freezing the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) name and its reserved ‘Flowers & Grass’ election symbol amid a dispute between rival factions.
The writ petition was filed on September 18, with the ECI and the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee named as respondents. The petition is yet to be numbered and registered.
The challenge follows the ECI’s September 17 interim order restraining both rival factions from using the name “All India Trinamool Congress” and the reserved ‘Flowers & Grass’ symbol for the upcoming by-elections. The Commission directed the factions to suggest alternative names and free symbols pending a final determination of their competing claims.
ECI assigns new names and symbols to rival factions
Following the exercise directed by the poll panel, the ECI allotted separate names and symbols to the two factions on September 18. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Football Player’ symbol.
The Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Envelope’ symbol.
The arrangement is an interim measure for the upcoming by-elections and does not amount to a final adjudication of which faction is entitled to the original party name and symbol. The substantive dispute remains to be determined separately under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
Dispute over original AITC name and symbol
The ECI's interim order came after rival groups led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee claimed to represent the All India Trinamool Congress.
The Commission said its interim arrangement was intended to address the competing claims pending final determination and directed both factions to submit three preferred names and three free symbols.
The development has come ahead of the October 6 by-elections in West Bengal, including Nandigram and Rejinagar.
Mamata Banerjee has now challenged the ECI's interim order before the Supreme Court, seeking judicial intervention against the freezing of the original party identity and election symbol.
Case Title: Mamata Banerjee v. Election Comission of India & Ors.
Bench: Supreme Court of India (hearing expected)