The Calcutta High Court has dismissed a plea filed by the Indian Secular Front (ISF) challenging the allotment of the “Envelope” election symbol to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress Democratic (TMC-D) for the upcoming Nandigram Assembly by-election.

ISF had challenged the Election Commission's decision to allot the “Envelope” symbol to TMC-D, contending that the party had used the symbol while canvassing during the Assembly elections and that allotting the same symbol to another political party would cause confusion among voters.

The plea was heard by Justice Krishna Rao in connection with the Nandigram by-election.

ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui had approached the High Court, represented by Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, challenging the Election Commission's decision.

The Election Commission had opposed the plea, stating that ISF was not a recognised political party and that the “Envelope” was only a temporary/free symbol available for allotment.

During the hearing, the Court had raised questions concerning the allotment of the symbol and observed that the Election Commission was required to act impartially in the matter. The Court had also referred to the availability of 183 free symbols.

The Court has now dismissed ISF's challenge, paving the way for the allotment of the “Envelope” symbol to TMC-D for the Nandigram by-election.