SUPREME COURT ASKS EC TO SET TIMELINE FOR TMC NAME AND SYMBOL DISPUTE

September 24, 2026

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission to provide a clear timeline for deciding the dispute between two rival factions of the Trinamool Congress over the party’s name and its traditional ‘Flowers and Grass’ election symbol.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, was hearing a petition filed by Mamata Banerjee challenging the Election Commission’s interim decision to freeze the original TMC name and symbol. The court asked the poll panel to indicate how much time it would require to reach a final decision.

The Election Commission had earlier barred both factions from using the original party name and symbol while it examines their competing claims under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. As an interim arrangement for the October 6 West Bengal bypolls, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted 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.

During Thursday’s hearing, the Supreme Court indicated that the Commission should proceed expeditiously while giving both sides a fair opportunity to present evidence. The matter is scheduled to be heard again on September 28.