New Delhi, September 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday sought urgent listing before the Supreme Court of her plea challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) interim decision to freeze the party’s name and reserved election symbol amid a dispute between rival factions.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Banerjee, mentioned the matter before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and sought an early hearing.
“They (ECI) issue a by-poll notification and in the middle of notification, they freeze the symbol. We want urgent listing,” Sibal submitted.
The Chief Justice said the rival side would also have submissions to make and assured the court would consider listing the matter.
“Both sides will have something to say. When the matter is listed, then argue. We will try to list,” CJI Kant said.
Banerjee’s plea challenges the ECI’s interim order freezing the use of the name “All India Trinamool Congress” and the party’s reserved “Flowers and Grass” symbol pending a substantive determination of the dispute under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
The poll panel had on Thursday barred both factions from using the existing TMC name and symbol, noting that two rival groups were claiming to be the recognised political party. It subsequently allotted alternative names and symbols to the factions for the upcoming West Bengal by-elections.
The Mamata-led faction was allotted “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “football player” symbol, while the rival faction was allotted “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “envelope” symbol.
The interim arrangement will apply to the October 6 by-elections, including those in Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies.
The Mamata-led faction has rejected the ECI’s interim arrangement, while the rival camp led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee has claimed control over the party’s organisational and legislative structures.
The dispute has also extended to Parliament, where 20 rebel TMC Lok Sabha MPs broke away and aligned themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), claiming recognition as a separate parliamentary group.
The Mamata-led faction had challenged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s delay in deciding disqualification petitions against the 20 MPs under the anti-defection law. On August 25, the Supreme Court issued notices to the rebel MPs on a petition filed by TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, while not issuing notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Speaker, informed the court that notices had already been issued to the 20 MPs in the disqualification proceedings. The Supreme Court subsequently sought their responses.
The TMC has maintained that the MPs were elected on its symbol and that their decision to join another political formation attracts the anti-defection law. The rebel faction, however, has claimed the support of more than two-thirds of the TMC’s Lok Sabha MPs and sought recognition as a separate parliamentary group.
The organisational dispute subsequently reached the ECI, with both factions staking claim to the TMC name and symbol. The poll panel said its interim arrangement was intended to place the rival groups on an even footing and protect their respective rights and interests until a final determination.
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