The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission to decide the symbol dispute between rival Trinamool Congress factions within three months.
The court said that the three-month period will begin from four weeks hence, within which both sides were directed to file all necessary responses and evidence.
The arrangements apply to the upcoming bypolls, including those in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana was hearing the writ petition filed by former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress founder Mamata Banerjee, challenging the Election Commission’s September 17 decision to freeze the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) name and its ‘Flowers & Grass’ election symbol amid a dispute between rival factions of the party. Also Read I ‘True partnership’: Rebel Trinamool MP Saayoni Ghosh bats for TMC-Congress alliance, says will send ‘powerful message’ The Election Commission’s September 17 order came after rival groups staked claim to the party name, symbol and organisational control. The commission said there were two rival groups, one led by Banerjee and the other by the opposing faction, and that the dispute required a substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
The poll panel has named Banerjee’s faction “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and allotted it the “Football Player” symbol. The rival faction has been recognised as “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and allotted the “Envelope” symbol.
