The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to urgently list Mamata Banerjee’s petition challenging the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to freeze the Trinamool Congress (TMC) name and its iconic ‘Jora Ghash Phul’ symbol amid a dispute between rival factions.
Appearing for Banerjee, senior advocate Kapil Sibal urged the bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, for immediate listing. “They issue a notification, and in the middle of it, they freeze the symbol. What’s going on? We want urgent listing,” Sibal submitted.
The bench assured that the matter would be listed soon, noting that both factions would have an opportunity to present their arguments.
The EC’s interim order last week barred both groups from using the ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ name and symbol, citing the need for a substantive determination under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. On Friday, the poll panel allotted separate names and symbols — ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ with a ‘Football Player’ symbol for Banerjee’s faction, and ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ with an ‘Envelope’ symbol for the group led by Arup Roy.
Banerjee has described the EC’s decision as a “black day” for democracy and vowed to reclaim the party’s original identity politically, democratically, and legally. The bypolls to Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9.
