Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Calcutta High Court Questions EC Over Envelope Symbol Reassignment
The Election Commission gave the envelope symbol to a Trinamool Congress rebel group.
The Indian Secular Front, or ISF, said it had used that symbol before.
The ISF is also contesting an election where the rebel group will compete.
Its lawyer said changing the symbol could confuse voters.
Justice Krishna Rao questioned why the Commission chose the envelope when 183 other symbols were available.
He said election authorities should act fairly.
The Commission gave the ISF an almirah symbol instead.
The court asked the Commission to explain its decision and will hear the case again.
The by-elections are planned for October 6, with results due October 9.
The Calcutta High Court criticised the Election Commission for giving the ISF’s envelope symbol to the rebel-led Democratic Trinamool Congress.
Justice Krishna Rao questioned the choice despite the Election Commission having 183 free symbols available.
The ISF argued that reassigning its previously used symbol could confuse voters during the Nandigram by-election.
The Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction received the Democratic Trinamool Congress name and envelope symbol, while the ISF received almirah.
The court sought an Election Commission report and adjourned the hearing; polling is scheduled for October 6, with results on October 9.
- Who
- The Calcutta High Court, Election Commission of India, Indian Secular Front, and Ritabrata Banerjee-led Trinamool faction are involved.
- What
- The court is reviewing the Election Commission’s reassignment of the envelope symbol to the Democratic Trinamool Congress.
- When
- The court sought a report on Wednesday, criticised the Commission on Thursday, and adjourned the matter until Friday; polling is scheduled for October 6.
- Where
- The proceedings are before the Calcutta High Court in West Bengal; the relevant by-elections are in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
- Why
- The ISF challenged the decision because it had previously used the envelope symbol and is contesting a by-election where the new party also received it.
ISF and Court Concerns
Election Commission’s Allocation
Choice of symbol
ISF and Court Concerns
The ISF argued that the envelope symbol had been used by the party and should not have been assigned to another party contesting the same election. Justice Krishna Rao questioned the choice because 183 other symbols were available.
Election Commission’s Allocation
The Election Commission assigned the envelope symbol to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction as part of an interim arrangement; the articles do not provide the Commission’s full reasoning.
Potential voter confusion
ISF and Court Concerns
The ISF said changing its symbol while another contestant received the envelope could confuse voters and suggested reserving the envelope symbol for all parties and assigning a different one.
Election Commission’s Allocation
The Commission’s counsel said contestants choose symbols, while the ISF’s lawyer disputed this and said the Commission makes the final allotment.
Party identities
ISF and Court Concerns
The ISF challenged the reassignment while contesting the Nandigram and Rejinagar by-elections.
Election Commission’s Allocation
After freezing the All India Trinamool Congress name and traditional flowers-and-grass symbol amid competing factional claims, the Commission allotted the rebel faction the Democratic Trinamool Congress name and gave the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and a football player symbol.
- Court
- Calcutta High Court, before Justice Krishna Rao
- Symbol in dispute
- Envelope
- Alternative symbol for ISF
- Almirah
- Symbols cited as available
- 183 free election symbols
- Ritabrata faction
- Democratic Trinamool Congress name and envelope symbol
- By-election polling
- October 6
- Results
- October 9
- Additional symbol change
- Aam Janata Unnayan Party received table instead of whistle
Sources
‘Always creating trouble’: Court raps EC over symbol allotted to TMC rebels
HC slams EC for allotting ISF's 'envelope' symbol to Trinamool faction
Calcutta High Court pulls up EC over ‘envelope’ symbol reassignment, says panel must act fairly
