Mamata Banerjee Challenges ECI’s TMC Name, ‘Flowers & Grass’ Symbol Freeze in Supreme Court

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court challenging.

The Election Commission of India’s interim decision to freeze the party’s original name and its traditional “Flowers and Grass” election symbol amid a dispute between rival factions.

Mamata filed the petition on Friday, a day after the poll panel directed both factions to stop using the All India Trinamool Congress name and reserved symbol until the dispute over control of the party is decided.

Mamata Challenges ECI Order

The petition challenges the ECI’s interim order issued on September 17. The commission had asked the two factions to submit alternative names and free symbols for use in the upcoming bypolls while keeping the original party identity and symbol in reserve.

Mamata’s petition names the Election Commission and rival faction leader Ritabrata Banerjee among the respondents. Reports said the plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Friday, with the matter awaiting further procedural steps for listing and hearing.

New Names and Symbols Assigned

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

The rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol. The temporary identities are meant to facilitate participation in the upcoming bypolls while the broader dispute remains unresolved.

The ECI had said its interim measure was intended to keep the two groups on an equal footing and protect their respective interests until a final determination is made.

Dispute Comes Ahead of Bypolls

The name-and-symbol dispute comes ahead of bypolls scheduled for October 6, including contests in West Bengal’s Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies and Assam’s Nagaon parliamentary constituency. The commission’s interim order prevents either faction from using the original TMC name and “Flowers and Grass” symbol for these polls.

The Supreme Court challenge now places the ECI’s interim arrangement before the judiciary, while the underlying dispute over the party’s organisational control and entitlement to its original name and symbol remains pending.