Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Prioritizes Mamata Plea Against TMC Symbol Freeze
The Trinamool Congress party has split into two rival groups.
Both groups want to use the party’s original name and symbol.
The Election Commission temporarily stopped both groups from using them.
It gave Mamata Banerjee’s group a new name and symbol.
It gave Arup Roy’s group a different name and symbol.
Mamata disagrees with this decision and asked the Supreme Court to hear her case quickly.
The Supreme Court agreed to put the case on its priority list, but did not announce a date.
The two groups are expected to use their temporary identities in the upcoming bypolls unless the arrangement changes.
The Supreme Court agreed to urgently list Mamata Banerjee’s challenge to the Election Commission’s freeze on the TMC’s original name and symbol.
The Election Commission barred both factions from using the ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ name and ‘Jora Ghash Phul’ symbol pending a final determination.
Banerjee’s faction received the name ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Football Player’ symbol.
The Arup Roy-led faction received the name ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Envelope’ symbol.
The temporary arrangements apply to October 6 bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, with counting scheduled for October 9.
- Who
- Mamata Banerjee, the Election Commission of India, and rival TMC factions led by Banerjee and Arup Roy.
- What
- The Supreme Court agreed to urgently list Banerjee’s plea challenging the EC’s interim freeze on the TMC’s original name and symbol.
- When
- The Supreme Court agreed to the urgent listing on Monday; the bypolls are scheduled for October 6 and counting for October 9.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal; the bypolls are in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
- Why
- The EC said the factional dispute requires substantive adjudication, but there was insufficient time to complete proceedings before the bypolls.
Mamata Banerjee’s Challenge
Election Commission’s Interim Arrangement
Use of party identity
Mamata Banerjee’s Challenge
Banerjee says freezing the original party name and ‘Jora Ghash Phul’ symbol is unacceptable and has vowed to reclaim them through legal, political, and democratic means.
Election Commission’s Interim Arrangement
The EC barred both factions from using the original name and symbol while it conducts a substantive determination of the dispute.
Timing before bypolls
Mamata Banerjee’s Challenge
Banerjee’s counsel, Kapil Sibal, argued that the symbol was frozen during an election notification and sought urgent court intervention.
Election Commission’s Interim Arrangement
The EC said there was insufficient time to complete proceedings before the bypolls, so it assigned temporary names and symbols to both factions.
- Court action
- The Supreme Court agreed to urgently list Mamata Banerjee’s plea, without specifying a hearing date.
- EC decision
- Both factions were barred from using the ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ name and ‘Jora Ghash Phul’ symbol pending final determination.
- Banerjee faction
- ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ with the ‘Football Player’ symbol.
- Arup Roy faction
- ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ with the ‘Envelope’ symbol.
- Legal framework
- The EC cited the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
- Bypolls
- Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled for October 6; counting is scheduled for October 9.
- Dispute background
- The EC action followed a rebellion in the TMC legislature party that later extended to Parliament.
Sources
SC Agrees to Urgent Hearing of Mamata’s Plea Against EC Freeze
Top court to urgently hear Didi plea against EC decision to freeze Trinamool symbol
SC agrees urgent listing of Mamata Banerjee's plea challenging EC's decision to freeze party name, symbol
Supreme Court to hear Mamata Banerjee’s plea against freeze on party name, symbol on priority
