Archive · 21 Sep 2026
ISF Challenges Election Commission Symbol Allotment to Rebel TMC
The Indian Secular Front, or ISF, is challenging a decision about election symbols.
The Election Commission gave ISF’s envelope symbol to Democratic Trinamul Congress.
ISF was given a new symbol called almirah instead.
ISF says voters already know the envelope symbol and could become confused.
Its MLA also says the change might help the rebel TMC group win extra votes.
ISF says the Election Commission should have consulted the party first.
Democratic TMC supports the decision.
Its spokesperson says ISF is not a recognised party.
The Indian Secular Front challenged the Election Commission’s allotment of its envelope symbol to Democratic Trinamul Congress.
The symbol was allotted to Democratic Trinamul Congress on September 18 for the October 6 Assembly bypolls.
The Election Commission gave ISF a new almirah symbol, disappointing its leadership.
ISF MLA Noushad Siddiqui said changing the familiar symbol could confuse voters and benefit the rebel faction.
Democratic TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta defended the decision, saying ISF is an unrecognised party.
- Who
- The Indian Secular Front, Democratic Trinamul Congress, the Election Commission, and leaders including Noushad Siddiqui and Riju Dutta.
- What
- ISF challenged the allotment of its envelope election symbol to Democratic Trinamul Congress and its replacement with the almirah symbol.
- When
- The petition was filed on Monday; the symbol was allotted on September 18, ahead of bypolls on October 6.
- Where
- The dispute is before the Calcutta High Court and concerns elections in West Bengal.
- Why
- ISF says the symbol change could confuse voters and unfairly benefit Democratic TMC, while Democratic TMC says ISF is an unrecognised party.
ISF’s Challenge
Democratic TMC’s Defense
Whether the symbol change is fair
ISF’s Challenge
ISF says the envelope symbol is already recognised by its voters and that changing it shortly before the bypoll could cause confusion and transfer votes to the rebel faction.
Democratic TMC’s Defense
Democratic TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta defended the Election Commission’s decision, arguing that ISF is an unrecognised party.
Whether consultation was required
ISF’s Challenge
ISF says the Election Commission changed its symbol unilaterally without consulting the party and has submitted an objection.
Democratic TMC’s Defense
Democratic TMC’s stated position supports the allotment decision, but the article does not report a specific response to ISF’s consultation claim.
Recognition of Democratic TMC
ISF’s Challenge
ISF questioned how a party that had not previously existed could receive recognition overnight and obtain the envelope symbol.
Democratic TMC’s Defense
Democratic TMC relies on the Election Commission’s allotment and says ISF’s unrecognised status supports the decision.
- Petitioner
- Indian Secular Front (ISF)
- Challenged decision
- Allotment of the envelope symbol to Democratic Trinamul Congress
- New ISF symbol
- Almirah
- Symbol allotment date
- September 18
- Upcoming election
- Assembly bypolls on October 6
- Court
- Calcutta High Court
- ISF representative
- Bhangar MLA Noushad Siddiqui