NEW DELHI, September 20: Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s interim decision to freeze the All India Trinamool Congress name and its traditional “Flowers and Grass” election symbol amid a dispute between rival factions of the party. Her petition was filed on September 18, while the dispute remains pending before the Election Commission.
Mamata Challenges Election Commission’s Interim Order
Banerjee’s petition challenges the EC’s September 17 order that temporarily barred both rival groups from using the All India Trinamool Congress name and reserved election symbol while the commission determines which faction has the valid claim to the party organisation.
The Election Commission said the dispute requires a substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, which governs disputes between rival groups of a recognised political party.
Rival TMC Factions Given Temporary Names and Symbols
Pending a final decision, the Election Commission has allotted separate temporary identities to the two camps.
Banerjee’s faction has been allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol.
The rival faction led organisationally by Arup Roy has been allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol.
West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, who represents the rival camp in the dispute, has been named along with the Election Commission as a respondent in Banerjee’s Supreme Court petition.
EC Says Final Decision Could Not Come Before Bypolls
The Election Commission said there was insufficient time to conclusively determine the rival claims before the upcoming Assembly by-elections.
It therefore decided that neither faction should use the original name or symbol for the immediate electoral contest, saying the temporary arrangement was intended to place both groups on an equal footing until the dispute is finally decided.
Nandigram and Rejinagar Bypolls on October 6
The temporary names and symbols will apply to the upcoming Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly by-elections, scheduled for October 6.
Counting of votes is scheduled for October 9.
The Election Commission had announced the bypolls shortly before issuing its interim decision in the Trinamool dispute.
Mamata Says She Will Fight to Recover Original Identity
Banerjee has publicly criticised the EC’s decision and said her faction would continue pursuing political, democratic and legal remedies to reclaim the original party name and its “Jora Ghash Phul” — Flowers and Grass — symbol.
She described the EC decision as a “black day” for democracy and compared losing the party identity to a mother losing her child. These are Banerjee’s stated views; the Election Commission has said its order is an interim measure pending a final determination of the competing claims.
Dispute Followed Split Within Trinamool Congress
The party dispute intensified after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election, when a large group of Trinamool MLAs rebelled against Banerjee’s leadership.
In June, rebel MLAs chose Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition, while the rival camp subsequently asserted that Arup Roy had been elected party chairperson. Banerjee’s faction disputes those claims and maintains that its existing organisational structure remains valid.
The Election Commission heard representatives of both sides before issuing its interim freeze order.
Supreme Court Hearing Now Awaited
Banerjee’s petition was filed in the Supreme Court through advocate Abhinav Singh on September 18.
The case now places the EC’s temporary arrangement before the Supreme Court while the poll panel separately continues examining the underlying dispute over organisational control, party name and symbol.
source – The Indian Express / Hindustan Times / Bar & Bench
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