Mamata Banerjee moves Supreme Court against EC freeze on TMC name, symbol
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission's interim decision to freeze the Trinamool Congress' name and election symbol amid a dispute between rival factions of the party.
The Election Commission, in its September 17 interim order, barred both the Mamata Banerjee-led faction and the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee from using the 'All India Trinamool Congress' name and the party's traditional 'Flowers and Grass' symbol for the upcoming bypolls.
New names, symbols for rival factions
Following the EC order, the two factions were asked to choose separate names and symbols until the dispute over control of the party is finally decided.
The Mamata Banerjee faction has been allotted the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and the 'Football Player' symbol.
The faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has been allotted 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' as its name and the 'Envelope' symbol.
The EC has said the interim arrangement will remain in place until it takes a final decision on the rival claims.
Nandigram bypoll takes another dramatic turn
Mamata's legal challenge came amid fresh developments in the Nandigram Assembly bypoll.
Her faction's candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew from the contest after meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Following the withdrawal, Banerjee announced at a press conference at her Kalighat residence that her faction would support Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.
Banerjee described the Congress as a "sister party" and said the move was aimed at sending a message about strengthening the INDIA bloc.
Congress candidate arrested hours after Mamata's support
Pradhan was subsequently arrested by West Bengal Police in connection with an old case linked to the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement.
Mamata Banerjee during a press conference at her Kalighat residence on Friday. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
The arrest came only hours after Mamata announced her faction's support for his candidature.
Congress leaders alleged the arrest's timing was politically motivated. Rahul Gandhi called it "political revenge", while Congress leader KC Venugopal also questioned the use of an old case against the party's candidate.
Police sources, however, told The Indian Express that the arrest was linked to a pending warrant in the old case and said authorities review such pending warrants during election periods.
Congress says it did not seek Mamata's support
The development has also exposed differences within the opposition camp.
West Bengal Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the party had not sought Mamata Banerjee's backing, pointing out that her faction had first fielded its own candidate and extended support only after that candidate withdrew.
The BJP, meanwhile, criticised both camps in the unfolding Nandigram contest.
TMC name and symbol row ahead of bypolls
The EC's interim order has added another layer to the political contest ahead of the October 6 bypolls.
The poll panel said the temporary arrangement was intended to keep the rival groups on an equal footing while the dispute over the party's organisational control, name and symbol is considered.
The Supreme Court challenge by Mamata Banerjee now puts the EC's interim decision under judicial scrutiny, while the rival factions prepare to contest the upcoming elections under separate names and symbols.
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