SC agrees to urgent listing of Mamata’s TMC plea

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to urgently list Mamata Banerjee's petition challenging the Election Commission of India's decision to freeze the All India Trinamool Congress's name and election symbol. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal represented Banerjee, who filed the plea on September 18. Proceedings had already begun in the Election Commission's office in June, and the party's response was filed in July, but their original name and symbol were frozen after the notification for upcoming bypolls was issued.

The Court will hear arguments from both sides when the petition is listed for hearing. The Election Commission had earlier barred both factions from using the AITC name and "Flowers & Grass" symbol pending the resolution of their dispute over party control. This interim arrangement is crucial as the October 6 assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar approach, with the Commission examining rival claims related to the party's organizational structure, leadership, and entitlement to its original name and symbol under specific election regulations.