Mamata Banerjee Challenges ECI Order Splitting Trinamool Congress

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court of India on September 18, 2026, challenging an interim order by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The ECI froze the All India Trinamool Congress name and its Flowers and Grass symbol following a leadership dispute between Banerjee and a rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.

To facilitate by-elections scheduled for October 6 in Nandigram and Rejinagar, the ECI allotted the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and a Football Player symbol to Banerjee's group. The rival faction, which includes 58 rebel MLAs, was designated as the Democratic Trinamool Congress and assigned an Envelope symbol. The ECI stated these are temporary measures to prevent the rejection of dual nominations while a final decision on party control is determined under the Election Symbols Order of 1968.

Banerjee condemned the order as a black day in democratic history, alleging a partnership between the ECI and the BJP to undermine democracy. She further accused the government of political revenge after West Bengal Police arrested Congress candidate Milan Pradhan shortly after her faction pledged support for him in the Nandigram bypoll. West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh criticized Banerjee's legal challenge, suggesting the dispute could jeopardize her faction's ability to contest the polls.