Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the Election Commission’s decision to freeze the name and election symbol of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).
On Monday, Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Banerjee, mentioned the matter before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and sought an urgent hearing.
The CJI responded to Sibal's request, saying the rival side would also have submissions to make.
"Both sides will have something to say. When the matter is listed, then argue. We will try to list," Justice Kant said.
Sibal questioned the timing of the ECI’s decision, pointing out that the by-election process in West Bengal was already underway.
“They issue a notification and in the middle of notification, they freeze the symbol. What is going on? We want urgent listing,” Sibal told the court.
The Election Commission last week froze the AITC’s name and its ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol amid a dispute between two rival factions 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 October 6 bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
The rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee was allotted the name ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Envelope’ symbol.
The poll panel said it had taken the interim measure as two rival groups were claiming to be the original Trinamool Congress and there was insufficient time to complete the proceedings before the bypolls.
Soon after the ECI’s announcement, the Mamata-led faction’s candidate for Nandigram, Sanchita Pradhan, withdrew from the contest, following which the party announced its support for the Congress candidate.
Mamata’s Rejinagar candidate, Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, also announced his withdrawal from the contest but made a U-turn hours later.
