Bengal bypolls: ISF plea challenging re-assignment of ‘envelope’ symbol dismissed

On September 30, 2026, the Calcutta High Court dismissed a petition filed by the Indian Secular Front (ISF) that challenged the Election Commission’s (EC) reassignment of the envelope poll symbol to the newly formed Democratic Trinamool Congress (DTC). The ISF had argued that the envelope symbol, which it used in the 2024 Lok Sabha and 2026 assembly elections, was unjustly transferred to the DTC despite their objection. Justice Krishna Rao ruled that the ISF's petition is dismissed.

The Election Commission recently allocated the ISF the almirah symbol instead of the envelope symbol. In their petition, the ISF questioned whether the EC's decision to reassign the symbol was a reasonable exercise of its powers. They sought to freeze the 'envelope' symbol, but the EC explained that the ISF is a registered political party but not a recognized one.

Consequently, the EC stated that the ISF does not have the right to hold a symbol, unlike the BJP or the Congress. During the court proceedings, the EC's lawyer emphasized that the 'envelope' symbol was only allotted to the ISF for use in two elections.