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 to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led Democratic Trinamool Congress, alleging that the symbol, which was being used by the ISF, was allotted to the rival faction without giving the party an opportunity to raise its objections.

The development comes ahead of the October 6 Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar.

The Election Commission had recently allotted the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and the 'Envelope' symbol to the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, following its decision to freeze the 'All India Trinamool Congress' name and the party's traditional 'Flowers and Grass' symbol amid the dispute between rival factions of the Trinamool Congress.

The ISF, which had been using the 'Envelope' symbol, has instead been allotted the 'Almirah' symbol for the upcoming bypolls.

The Election Commission's decision to allot separate names and symbols to the rival TMC factions followed its interim decision to freeze the use of the 'All India Trinamool Congress' name and the 'Flowers and Grass' symbol. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and the 'Football Player' symbol, while the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction was allotted 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and the 'Envelope' symbol.