Mamata Banerjee Moves Supreme Court Against ECI Order Freezing Trinamool Congress Name & Symbol
Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress founder Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to freeze the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) name and its reserved 'Flowers & Grass' election symbol amid a dispute between rival factions of the party.
The writ petition, challenging the ECI decision, was filed on September 18. The ECI and the rival faction's head, Ritabatra Banerjee, are made respondents.
The Commission had on September 17 passed the interim order after it concluded that there were two rival groups, one led by Mamata Banerjee and the other by Ritabatra Banerjee, each claiming to be the real Trinamool Congress.
The ECI has since allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the 'Football Player' symbol to the faction led by Mamata Banerjee.
The rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has been allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the 'Envelope' symbol.
The ECI's interim arrangement is applicable to the upcoming by-elections, including those in Nandigram and Rejinagar, scheduled for October 6.
The ECI has clarified that the allocation of the new names and symbols is an interim arrangement and does not constitute a final adjudication of the rival claims over the original party name and symbol. The substantive dispute is to be determined separately under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.