The Trinamool Congress faction led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee moved the Supreme Court on Friday (September 18, 2026) against a decision by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to freeze the party’s symbol.
The petition was filed hours after the top poll body on Friday (September 18, 2026) allotted new names and symbols to the two factions of the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee.
On Thursday (September 17, 2026), the ECI had issued an interim order barring the use of the party symbol and name in the upcoming Assembly byelections in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal.
Interests of a political party being served, says Mamata after losing TMC name and symbol; vows to fight back The Mamata-led faction got the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' with ‘football player’ as its symbol, while the Ritabrata-led grouping was allotted the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' with the symbol of an 'envelope’.
The plea said the ECI did not comprehensively look into the party structure while considering rival claims made by the two camps.
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Nandigram bypoll: Congress candidate Milan Pradhan arrested hours after getting Mamata’s support The Mamata Banerjee camp has also filed a separate petition highlighting the delay in the disqualification proceedings pending before the West Bengal Assembly Speaker against the 10 legislators from the rebel faction.
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