SC asks Election Commission when it can decide TMC name, symbol row

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission to apprise it of the time frame within which it could finally decide the dispute between two rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress over the party’s name and “flowers and grass” election symbol.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing a plea by former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee against the Election Commission’s decision to freeze the TMC’s name and party symbol.

Referring to the delay in deciding the Shiv Sena dispute, the bench said the matter should be decided expeditiously and asked the



poll panel to suggest a “reasonable” time frame that would allow both sides a fair opportunity to present their evidence while enabling the EC to reach a final decision.

It asked senior advocate D S Naidu, appearing for the poll panel, to apprise it of the timeline for finally deciding the dispute over the ownership of the TMC’s name and election symbol and posted Banerjee’s plea for hearing on September 28.

“Find out, for final adjudication, how much time are you expected to take? Only for this limited purpose… reasonable time in which parties are given fair opportunity and you have time to apply your mind… but not too long,” the CJI said.