Archive · 23 Sep 2026
ISF Seeks Court Freeze on Envelope Election Symbol
The Indian Secular Front, or ISF, wants to keep using an election symbol called the ‘envelope.’
The Election Commission recently gave the ISF a different symbol called the ‘almirah.’
The ISF went to the Calcutta High Court to challenge that decision.
It asked the court to stop the Commission from giving the ‘envelope’ symbol to another party.
The Commission said the ISF is not a registered party.
It also said the ISF had been allowed to use the symbol only in two elections.
The ISF disagreed and said it should be treated as a recognised party because it has contested elections with that symbol.
The court will hear the case again before bypoll campaigning ends.
The Indian Secular Front asked the Calcutta High Court to freeze the ‘envelope’ election symbol.
The Election Commission allotted the ISF the ‘almirah’ symbol instead of the ‘envelope’ symbol.
The Election Commission argued that the ISF is unregistered and had used the symbol only for two elections.
The ISF said it is a recognised political party that has contested elections using the ‘envelope’ symbol.
The court adjourned the case until Thursday, ahead of October 6 bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
- Who
- The Indian Secular Front, the Election Commission of India, and the Democratic Trinamool Congress are involved; the ISF is led by Nawsad Siddiqui.
- What
- The ISF has challenged the allotment of the ‘envelope’ election symbol to another party and seeks to have the symbol frozen.
- When
- The court adjourned the matter until Thursday; the bypolls are scheduled for October 6, with campaigning ending October 4.
- Where
- The case is before the Calcutta High Court and concerns elections in West Bengal, including Nandigram and Rejinagar.
- Why
- The ISF says it has contested elections using the ‘envelope’ symbol, while the Election Commission says the unregistered party had no continuing right to retain it.
ISF’s Position
Election Commission’s Position
Right to retain the symbol
ISF’s Position
The ISF says it is a recognised political party and has contested elections using the ‘envelope’ symbol.
Election Commission’s Position
The Election Commission says the ISF is an unregistered party and therefore does not have the same right to retain a symbol as recognised parties such as the BJP and Congress.
Allotment of the ‘envelope’ symbol
ISF’s Position
The ISF questions whether the Election Commission reasonably exercised its powers by allotting the symbol to another party and wants it frozen.
Election Commission’s Position
The Election Commission has allotted the ‘envelope’ symbol to another party and maintains that the ISF’s previous use was limited to two elections.
- Petitioner
- Indian Secular Front (ISF)
- Requested remedy
- Freeze the ‘envelope’ election symbol and prevent its allotment to either contesting party
- Symbol allotted to ISF
- ‘Almirah’
- Election Commission position
- The ISF is unregistered and had been allotted the ‘envelope’ symbol only for two elections
- ISF position
- It is a recognised political party and has contested elections with the ‘envelope’ symbol
- Next hearing
- Thursday
- Upcoming bypolls
- Nandigram and Rejinagar on October 6