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The Indian Secular Front (ISF) has approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the Election Commission of India's decision to allot the 'Envelope' election symbol, which it had been using, to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The plea came up before the High Court on September 23, when Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, appearing for the ISF, questioned the decision to allot the symbol to another party while the ISF was also contesting the election using the same symbol.

“ISF has been correlated to the envelope. It is contesting the same by election. Now suddenly in a dispute between two parties, you offer our symbol to them. Is it a reasonable exercise of power?” Bhattacharya submitted.

The Election Commission, however, submitted that the ISF is an unrecognised political party and therefore cannot hold a reserved symbol. It was submitted that the 'Envelope' symbol had been allotted to the ISF temporarily, that it had used the symbol twice, and that the symbol was subsequently re-allotted.

Bhattacharya submitted that his prayer was that the 'Envelope' symbol should not be allotted either to the ISF or the other party for the same election.

“My prayer is that they cannot give envelope to another unregistered party in the same election that I am contesting. I was given the Envelope,” he submitted.

The senior counsel further submitted that the other party had been formed only recently and questioned the decision to allot the symbol to it.

During the hearing, the Court also referred to the competing claims involving the 'Envelope' and 'Football' symbols.

Bhattacharya submitted that the 'Envelope' symbol should instead be allotted to neither party and that the concerned party could be given another symbol.

“My contention is that the envelope should not be given to them or to me. Let them be given another symbol. I have been campaigning with Envelope,” he submitted.

The Election Commission sought time to return before the Court on the issue. The Court directed that the matter be listed tomorrow.

Case: Indian Secular Front v Election Commission of India

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