TMC Name, Symbol Dispute: Supreme Court Asks ECI to Decide Case Within 3 Months
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to resolve the ongoing symbol and identity dispute between rival factions of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) within three months.
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to decide the dispute between rival factions of the Trinamool Congress over the party’s name and its ‘Flowers and Grass’ election symbol within three months. The court said the rival groups would first get four weeks to complete their pleadings and submit the necessary evidence, Hindustan Times reported.
Four Weeks for Pleadings
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued the directions while hearing a petition challenging the ECI’s interim decision to freeze the original TMC name and symbol. The court said the three-month period for the ECI’s decision would begin after the four-week period given to the factions to complete their responses and counter-responses. TMC Name-Symbol Row: Mamata Banerjee Camp Unveils Football Player Logo.
The ECI had sought more time, arguing that the dispute involved a large volume of evidence and affidavits from party workers. The court, however, fixed the timeline for completing the process.
ECI Had Frozen Original TMC Identity
The dispute intensified after the ECI’s September 17 interim order froze the use of the All India Trinamool Congress name and the reserved ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol pending a final determination of competing claims.
For the upcoming West Bengal by-elections, the commission assigned separate names and symbols to the two factions. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Football Player symbol, while the rival group was allotted Democratic Trinamool Congress and the Envelope symbol. Mamata Banerjee Speaks to Congress Leaders Over EC Row; INDIA Bloc Meeting Likely on September 30.
Mamata Banerjee Challenged ECI Order
Former West Bengal chief minister and TMC founder Mamata Banerjee approached the Supreme Court after the interim arrangement was announced. The petition challenges the freezing of the party’s original identity while the broader dispute over organisational control, name and symbol remains pending before the poll panel.
The Supreme Court has not expressed any view on which faction is entitled to the TMC name or symbol. The final determination on the competing claims has been left to the ECI under the applicable election-symbol rules.
By-Elections Add Urgency
The interim arrangement assumes significance ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly by-elections, including contests in Nandigram and Rejinagar, scheduled for October 6. The Supreme Court’s latest order sets out a defined timetable for the rival factions to present their claims before the ECI and for the commission to reach its final decision.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 28, 2026 03:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
