Kolkata, September 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The All India Secular Front (AISF), represented by lone West Bengal Assembly member Nawsad Siddique, on Monday approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s decision to allot the “Envelope” symbol to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress.
The ECI last week allotted the faction the new name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol. AISF, meanwhile, was allotted the “Almirah” symbol.
The decision prompted objections from AISF, particularly Siddique, who was elected from the Bhangar Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas in both 2021 and 2026 using the “Envelope” symbol.
Siddique had earlier said that he had written to the ECI raising AISF’s objections and indicated that the party could challenge the decision in court.
On Monday afternoon, he approached the Calcutta High Court, where the matter came up before a single-judge Bench of Justice Krishna Rao.
“AISF has been contesting with the ‘Envelope’ symbol since 2021, the year the party was formed. Even I got elected twice in 2021 and 2026 with that symbol. In that case, how can the same symbol be allotted to the Democratic Trinamool Congress, which was formed just a couple of days back?” Siddique said.
AISF was not the only West Bengal political party to receive a new symbol from the ECI last week.
The Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), founded by Humayun Kabir, was allotted the “Table” symbol, replacing its earlier “Whistle” symbol. Kabir had contested and won simultaneously from the Naoda and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies in Murshidabad district earlier this year using the “Whistle” symbol.
Kabir, however, did not raise an objection to the allotment of the new symbol to his party.
AJUP is contesting the Rejinagar bypoll, while AISF is contesting from Nandigram in East Midnapore district next month.
The bypolls in Rejinagar and Nandigram are scheduled to be held on October 6, with counting of votes and declaration of results set for October 9.
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