Archive · 19 Sep 2026
ISF Loses Envelope Symbol to DTC After EC Recognition
Political parties use symbols so voters can easily identify them on ballots.
The ISF had used an envelope symbol since 2021.
The Election Commission has now recognised the Democratic Trinamool Congress as a state party.
It gave the envelope symbol to the DTC because the party listed it as its first choice.
This means the ISF cannot use that symbol for its Nandigram by-election candidate.
ISF campaign materials had already been printed with the envelope.
The ISF says the decision could weaken its political presence.
Its leader Naushad Siddiqui said the party plans to challenge the decision in court.
The Election Commission recognised the Democratic Trinamool Congress as a state party.
The DTC was allotted the envelope symbol, which the ISF had used since 2021.
The ISF is contesting the Nandigram Assembly bypoll and must choose a new symbol.
ISF leaders said campaign materials featuring the envelope symbol had already been prepared.
ISF chairperson Naushad Siddiqui said the party would challenge the decision in court.
- Who
- The All India Secular Front, the Democratic Trinamool Congress, and the Election Commission of India.
- What
- The ISF lost the envelope election symbol after the symbol was allotted to the DTC.
- When
- The decision was reported on Friday; the ISF had used the envelope symbol since 2021.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the Nandigram Assembly bypoll in West Bengal.
- Why
- The Election Commission recognised the DTC as a state party, and the DTC listed the envelope as its first-choice symbol.
ISF's Objection
EC's Allocation
Use of the envelope symbol
ISF's Objection
The ISF says it has popularised the envelope symbol since 2021 and that its campaign materials for the Nandigram bypoll already carry it.
EC's Allocation
The Election Commission allotted the envelope to the DTC after recognising it as a state party and considering its submitted symbol preferences.
Effect on the election
ISF's Objection
The ISF says the decision will force it to start over with a new symbol and could weaken the Opposition.
EC's Allocation
The Election Commission's decision means the ISF must select another symbol from the free-symbol list because the envelope has been allotted to the DTC.
- ISF status
- The All India Secular Front is an unrecognised political party.
- DTC status
- The Democratic Trinamool Congress was recognised as a state party by the Election Commission.
- Disputed symbol
- The envelope symbol was allotted to the DTC.
- ISF symbol history
- The ISF used the envelope symbol in 2021 and chose it again in 2026.
- DTC preferences
- The DTC listed the envelope first, battery torch second, and pencil box third.
- Election
- The ISF has fielded a candidate in the Nandigram Assembly bypoll.
- Planned response
- ISF chairperson Naushad Siddiqui said the party would challenge the decision in court.