Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Gives ECI Four Months for TMC Dispute
Two groups disagree about which one is the real Trinamool Congress.
Both groups want to use the party’s original name and its “Flowers & Grass” election symbol.
The Election Commission temporarily stopped both groups from using them.
It gave Mamata Banerjee’s group a different name and the Football Player symbol.
The other group received the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the Envelope symbol.
The Supreme Court told both groups to send their documents to the Election Commission within four weeks.
After that, the Commission has three months to make a final decision.
The court said it would not decide which group is right itself.
The final decision may come after the October by-elections and before or during early 2027.
The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India to decide the Trinamool Congress name and symbol dispute within three months after receiving the factions’ pleadings.
Both factions must submit pleadings, affidavits, counter-affidavits and other documents within four weeks.
The ECI froze the All India Trinamool Congress name and “Flowers & Grass” symbol on September 17.
The Mamata Banerjee faction received the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Football Player symbol, while the rival faction received Democratic Trinamool Congress and the Envelope symbol.
The dispute concerns rival claims to the original party identity and is expected to remain unresolved until early 2027, according to one report.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India, Mamata Banerjee’s faction, and the rival faction associated with Ritabrata Banerjee and Arup Roy.
- What
- The Supreme Court set a schedule for resolving which faction may use the All India Trinamool Congress name and the “Flowers & Grass” symbol.
- When
- The court issued its order on Monday; the factions have four weeks to submit pleadings, followed by three months for the ECI to decide.
- Where
- The dispute is before the Election Commission of India and concerns rival factions of the Bengal-based Trinamool Congress.
- Why
- The factions filed competing claims to the original party identity after a split following the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Mamata Banerjee Faction
Rival Trinamool Faction
Party identity
Mamata Banerjee Faction
Mamata Banerjee’s faction claims the authentic Trinamool Congress identity and challenged the ECI’s decision to freeze the original name and symbol.
Rival Trinamool Faction
The rival faction, described in the reports as led by Ritabrata Banerjee and associated with Arup Roy, also claims to represent the original Trinamool Congress.
Temporary election identity
Mamata Banerjee Faction
The faction led by Mamata Banerjee is using the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Football Player symbol for the by-elections.
Rival Trinamool Faction
The rival faction is using the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the Envelope symbol.
Time required for the decision
Mamata Banerjee Faction
Mamata Banerjee’s side sought an expedited resolution of the dispute.
Rival Trinamool Faction
The ECI requested six months, citing the complexity of the case, the number of parties and the need to examine evidence; the Supreme Court rejected that request and set three months after the pleadings.
- Court bench
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana
- Factions’ deadline
- Four weeks to submit pleadings, affidavits, counter-affidavits and additional documents
- ECI deadline
- Three months after the pleadings are completed
- Frozen identity
- The name All India Trinamool Congress and the “Flowers & Grass” symbol
- Mamata faction
- Mamata All India Trinamool Congress; Football Player symbol
- Rival faction
- Democratic Trinamool Congress; Envelope symbol
- By-elections
- Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled for October 6, 2026; counting is scheduled for October 9
Sources
SC sets 4-month deadline for EC to decide Trinamool name, symbol dispute; poll panel sought 6 months
Supreme Court gives ECI four months to resolve TMC name, symbol dispute
SC directs ECI to resolve TMC name, symbol dispute within three months
