Mamata Banerjee moves Supreme Court against EC decision to freeze TMC name, symbol

NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission’s decision to bar her faction from using the All India Trinamool Congress name and its traditional “Flowers and Grass” election symbol.The EC had on Thursday frozen the party’s name and symbol for the upcoming October 6 bypolls amid a dispute between rival factions of the Trinamool Congress over control of the party.The poll panel subsequently allotted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol for the bypolls. The rival faction was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol.The EC’s interim arrangement applies to the upcoming bypolls, while the dispute over the original party name and symbol remains unresolved.The move comes amid an ongoing organisational dispute within the TMC, with rival factions staking claims to the party’s identity and electoral symbol.Mamata’s legal challenge before the Supreme Court seeks to contest the poll panel’s decision to prevent her faction from using the original party name and “Flowers and Grass” symbol.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.