TMC Name-Symbol Row: Supreme Court Asks ECI To Decide Dispute Within Four Months
TMC Name-Symbol Row: Supreme Court Asks ECI To Decide Dispute Within Four Months
M.U.H
28/09/202612
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Election Commission of India to decide the Trinamool Congress election symbol dispute within three months after the rival faction files its response.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked both factions to complete their pleadings before the poll panel within four weeks.
The court asked the Election Commission to issue its final decision on the dispute within three months of the completion of pleadings by both sides.
SC heard the plea moved by former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress founder Mamata Banerjee challenging the ECI interim order freezing the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) name and its reserved ‘Flowers & Grass’ election symbol amid a dispute between rival factions.
The challenge comes after the ECI’s September 17 interim order restraining both rival factions from using the name “All India Trinamool Congress" and the reserved ‘Flowers & Grass’ symbol for the upcoming by-elections.
The Commission directed the factions to suggest alternative names and free symbols pending a final determination of their competing claims.
Following the exercise ordered by the poll panel, the Election Commission of India (ECI) assigned separate names and symbols to the two factions on September 18.
The faction led by Mamata Banerjee was given the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress" along with the ‘Football Player’ symbol.
The Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction, meanwhile, was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress" and the ‘Envelope’ symbol.
The arrangement is temporary and applies only to the upcoming by-elections. It does not represent a final decision on which faction is entitled to the original party name and symbol.
