New Delhi, September 24 (Daily Kiran) : The Supreme Court of India has instructed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to establish a timeline for resolving the ongoing dispute regarding the name and reserved election symbol of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The court emphasized that the matter should not be prolonged indefinitely.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Justices Surya Kant, Joymalya Bagchi, and V. Mohan was hearing a petition filed by TMC leader Mamata Banerjee. The petition challenges the ECI’s interim decision to freeze the party’s name and its election symbol, “flower and grass,” due to disputes among rival factions.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Supreme Court requested the ECI to propose a practical timeline that would allow both sides to present their evidence without unnecessary delays.
During discussions with the ECI’s counsel, the CJI’s bench stated, “Please provide us with a reasonable timeline that offers both parties a fair opportunity to present their evidence while ensuring the case does not drag on unnecessarily.”
The Supreme Court has directed the ECI to suggest a proposed timeframe and has postponed the next hearing of the case until September 28.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Mamata Banerjee, clarified that the petition does not seek to halt the by-elections. Instead, it urges the Supreme Court to ensure a swift resolution to the ECI’s dispute. Sibal questioned the timing of the ECI’s interim order, noting that the conflict had reached the commission in July, yet the decision to freeze the party’s name and symbol was made after the by-election process commenced.
Sibal remarked, “Can the Election Commission delay matters and then issue orders in the midst of elections, knowing I have no remedy left? You (ECI) issued this order during the elections.”
He argued that the ECI could have issued its order earlier, allowing the affected faction time to seek legal remedies.
The controversy escalated when rival factions claimed control over the TMC and its organizational and legislative structure. The ECI issued an interim order prohibiting both factions from using the established party name “All India Trinamool Congress” and the reserved symbol “flower and grass,” determining that a concrete decision was necessary under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
Following this, the ECI allocated the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the symbol “football player” to Mamata Banerjee’s faction, while the rival group led by Ritabrata Banerjee received the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the symbol “envelope” for the upcoming by-elections.
This interim arrangement pertains to the by-elections scheduled for October 6 in the Nandigram and Rejendranagar assembly constituencies.
Mamata Banerjee has challenged the decision to freeze the party’s established name and symbol until a final ruling is made, while the rival faction maintains its claim over the party.
The organizational dispute has also reached Parliament, where 20 rebel Lok Sabha MPs from the TMC have formed an alliance with the Nationalist Citizen Party of India (NCPI) and are seeking recognition as a separate parliamentary group.
Mamata Banerjee’s faction has contested the delays in adjudicating disqualification petitions against the 20 MPs under anti-defection laws. They argue that these MPs were elected under the TMC symbol and that joining another political organization invokes anti-defection provisions. However, the rival faction claims support from more than two-thirds of TMC’s Lok Sabha MPs and is seeking recognition as a separate parliamentary group. The Supreme Court will hear Mamata Banerjee’s petition on September 28.
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