The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to propose a timeline by next week for resolving the symbol dispute between rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC). According to court records, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant emphasized that an early decision is necessary following petitions filed by party founder Mamata Banerjee over the freeze of the original party name and the ‘Flowers & Grass’ election symbol.
Supreme Court Demands ECI Timeline on Trinamool Dispute
According to the proceedings from the Supreme Court on September 24, 2026, the bench—comprising CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana—heard a writ petition filed by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The petition challenges the ECI’s September 17 decision to freeze the AITC name and symbol amidst an internal factional rift. Addressing Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, counsel for the ECI, CJI Surya Kant asked the panel to determine a reasonable time frame for final adjudication that grants parties a fair opportunity without prolonging proceedings.
The urgency stems from paragraphs 35 and 36 of the ECI’s interim order, which record that candidates from both rival factions filed nominations for upcoming bye-elections while claiming to represent the Trinamool Congress. “Find out, for final adjudication, how much time are you expected to take?” CJI Surya Kant stated during the hearing.
Arguments Over Interim Orders and Bye-Elections
Appearing for Mamata Banerjee, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal argued that the poll panel intentionally delayed the matter before issuing an order mid-election, leaving his client without a legal remedy to challenge the decision in court. Sibal stated that the dispute had been pending before the ECI since July. However, the bench noted that the election schedule has already been notified. Justice Bagchi pointed out that the interim arrangement for the ongoing West Bengal bye-elections “cannot be touched” by judicial interference at this stage.
Representing the rival faction, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi maintained that the ECI regularly passes such interim measures in major symbol disputes, citing precedents such as the Shiv Sena case. Rohatgi and Senior Advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul requested additional breathing time, arguing that the case involves complex factual issues requiring extensive affidavits and evidence.
Interim Allotments and Next Steps
Under the ECI’s September 17 interim order, the faction led by Mamata Banerjee has been allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Football Player’ symbol. Meanwhile, the rival group led by Ritabrata Banerjee received the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Envelope’ symbol. These interim designations apply specifically to the upcoming bye-elections in constituencies including Nandigram and Rejinagar, scheduled for October 6.
The ECI has clarified that these allocations are strictly interim and do not constitute a final ruling on the substantive dispute, which falls under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. The Supreme Court adjourned the matter to next week, instructing the ECI counsel to report back with a proposed adjudication schedule.
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