Mamata Banerjee appeals to Supreme Court against Election Commission's decision to freeze Trinamool Congress' name and symbol.

In a recent development, Mamata Banerjee, the leader of Trinamool Congress, has taken a step forward by filing a plea in the Supreme Court to challenge the Election Commission of India's decision to freeze the party's name and symbol in the midst of an ongoing dispute between rival factions. This plea, which was filed on Friday under Diary No. 58005/2026, lists Mamata Banerjee as the petitioner and the Election Commission of India, its Secretary, and rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee as the respondents.

The plea comes after the poll panel's decision to issue an interim order, prohibiting both the Mamata Banerjee-led faction and the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction from using the Trinamool Congress name and its reserved 'Flowers and Grass' symbol. The ECI has directed both groups to submit alternative names and symbols for the upcoming by-elections, citing two rival groups claiming to be the All India Trinamool Congress and the need for a substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols Order, 1968. This development has direct implications for the upcoming by-elections in West Bengal, including the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies.

The 'original but minority' faction led by Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, has strongly protested against the ECI's interim order, stating that they do not accept the decision. The ECI's action has stemmed from a bitter organisational dispute within the TMC, with the rival camp led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee claiming control over the party's organisational and legislative structures, while the Mamata Banerjee-led faction maintains her position as the party's legitimate leader. This dispute has even spilled over into Parliament, with 20 rebel TMC Lok Sabha MPs breaking away and aligning themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, claiming recognition as a separate parliamentary group.

The TMC has challenged this move, citing the delay by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in deciding disqualification petitions against the 20 rebel MPs under the anti-defection law. The Supreme Court had issued a notice to the 20 rebel MPs on a plea filed by TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on August 25, while refraining from issuing a notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker. The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Speaker, had informed the court that notices had already been issued to the 20 MPs in the disqualification proceedings, and the apex court had sought responses from the rebel MPs.

The TMC has maintained that the MPs were elected on its symbol, and their subsequent decision to join another political formation attracts the provisions of the anti-defection law. However, the rebel faction claims the support of more than two-thirds of the TMC's Lok Sabha MPs and seeks recognition as a separate parliamentary group. The dispute over the party's organisational control has now reached the ECI, with both sides staking claim to the TMC name and symbol.

In its interim order, the poll body has stated that this temporary arrangement aims to protect the rights and interests of both rival groups until a final determination is reached. Earlier in the day, the ECI has allotted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and the 'football player' symbol, while the rival faction has been allotted the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and the 'envelope' symbol for the by-elections. This development has been reported by Orissa POST, Odisha's No.1 English Daily, highlighting the ongoing dispute and its implications for the upcoming by-elections in West Bengal.

Mamata Banerjee's plea in the Supreme Court reflects her determination to challenge the ECI's decision and assert her party's name and symbol amidst the ongoing organisational dispute.