The Indian Secular Front (ISF) has moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s decision to allot the ‘Envelope’ election symbol to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led Democratic Trinamool Congress, arguing that the symbol had been used by the ISF and that the party was not given an opportunity to raise objections before the change.
The legal challenge comes ahead of the October 6 Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, adding another layer to the ongoing political and legal disputes surrounding election symbols in West Bengal.
ISF challenges change in election symbol
The ISF had been using the Envelope symbol, including for its candidates in previous elections. The Election Commission has now allotted the party the ‘Almirah’ symbol for the upcoming bypolls.
ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui, who has represented Bhangar using the Envelope symbol, has objected to the Commission’s decision. According to the petition reported by LiveLaw, the party has alleged that the symbol was reassigned without giving it an adequate opportunity to present its objections.
The dispute assumes significance because the ‘Envelope’ symbol has now been assigned to the Democratic Trinamool Congress, the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
Symbol row follows TMC split
The Election Commission’s decision came after it passed an interim order freezing the use of the ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ name and the traditional ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol amid a dispute between rival factions claiming control of the party.
Under the interim arrangement, the faction led by Mamata Banerjee was allotted the name ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Football Player’ symbol, while the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction was given the name ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Envelope’ symbol.
The ISF’s challenge therefore places the party’s existing symbol directly within the wider dispute over the TMC’s organisational identity and election symbols.
With the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls scheduled for October 6, the symbol dispute has an immediate electoral dimension. The ISF is seeking judicial intervention over the Commission’s decision at a time when candidates and parties are preparing for the contests.
