The Supreme Court has asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to deliver a final decision within four months on which faction is entitled to use the Trinamool Congress party name and its official symbol, following a split within the party.
The dispute arose after the West Bengal Assembly election, in which the BJP won. Subsequently, 60 MLAs led by party leader Rithapratha Banerjee revolted against Mamata Banerjee, triggering a formal division within the Trinamool Congress.
Both sides have claimed to be the “real” Trinamool Congress. Pending a final decision, the ECI had imposed an interim freeze, barring both factions from using the “All India Trinamool Congress” name and the party’s official twin-flowers symbol.
Mamata Banerjee’s side challenged the interim freeze before the Supreme Court. During the hearing, Chief Justice Suryakant directed both factions to submit all relevant documents to the ECI within four weeks, and ordered the Commission to conclude the matter within four months from that date.
