Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission's interim decision to bar both rival factions from using the party's original name and its traditional Flowers and Grass symbol.
The EC had on September 17 frozen the All India Trinamool Congress name and the reserved symbol for the October 6 West Bengal Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar. The move came after the Mamata Banerjee and rebel factions separately claimed control of the party.
The poll panel subsequently allotted temporary identities to the two groups. The Mamata-led faction was given the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Football Player symbol, while the rival faction was allotted Democratic Trinamool Congress and the Envelope symbol.
The Supreme Court plea challenges the EC's decision to prevent the Mamata-led faction from using the established TMC identity.
The petition argues that the Commission did not properly assess the party's organisational structure while considering the competing claims. It also questions the reliance on statements and submissions from rebel legislators whose status is under challenge.
The EC's interim arrangement will remain in force for the upcoming bypolls while the broader dispute over the party's identity is considered.
The factional dispute has also moved into the anti-defection proceedings.
The Mamata-led camp has sought the disqualification of 10 MLAs aligned with the rival faction, including Ritabrata Banerjee and Arup Roy. The West Bengal Assembly Secretariat has issued notices to the legislators, asking them to respond to the petitions within a week.
The separate dispute over Ritabrata Banerjee's recognition as Leader of the Opposition is also being contested in court.
The confrontation between the two camps escalated after the TMC's defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Ritabrata Banerjee emerged as a key figure in the rebellion, with the rival group challenging Mamata Banerjee's control over the party organisation and legislature.
Both sides subsequently approached the Election Commission claiming the TMC's organisational identity, name and election symbol.
With the Supreme Court now seized of the EC order, the legal battle over the TMC's name and symbol will run alongside the Commission's proceedings and the preparations for the October 6 bypolls.
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