Mamata Banerjee challenges EC decision to freeze Trinamool name, symbol in Supreme Court

Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has filed a petition in the Supreme Court disputing the Election Commission's (EC) decision to suspend the Trinamool Congress's (TMC) name and party symbol due to a factional dispute within the party. The EC allotted separate names and symbols to two rival factions of the TMC on Friday, pending a resolution to the dispute.

Banerjee and her faction were given the name "Mamata All India Trinamool Congress" and the "Football Player" symbol for the upcoming bypolls on October 6. The rival faction, led by Arup Roy, received the name "Democratic Trinamool Congress" and the "Envelope" symbol. The bypolls for Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled for October 6, with vote counting on October 9.

This move comes after a significant split within the TMC, which began following the assembly election defeat in May and has since expanded to include members of Parliament.