Mamata moves Supreme Court against ECI’s freezing of Trinamool Congress symbol

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. | Photo credit: PTI

The Trinamool Congress faction led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday (September 18, 2026) moved the Supreme Court against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to freeze the party’s symbol.

The petition was filed hours after the election apex body on Friday (September 18, 2026) allotted new names and symbols to two Trinamool Congress factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee.

On Thursday (September 17, 2026), the ECI issued an interim order banning the use of the party symbol and name in the upcoming assembly elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal.

The Mamata-led faction was given the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” with the “footballer” symbol, while the Ritabrata-led grouping was given the name “Trinamool Democratic Congress” with the “envelope” symbol.

The plea said the ECI did not comprehensively examine the party structure when considering competing claims made by both camps.

The petition said the Election Commission had relied on the statements of the rebel legislators who were facing disqualification proceedings under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-subversion Act) of the Constitution.

Mamata Banerjee’s camp also filed a separate petition highlighting the delay in the disqualification proceedings pending before the Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly against 10 legislators from the rebel faction.

Published – 19 Sep 2026 01:15 IST