NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission to decide the dispute between two rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the party’s name and its “flowers and grass” election symbol within three months.A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked both factions to complete their pleadings before the poll panel within four weeks.The court directed the Election Commission to take a final decision on the dispute within three months after the completion of pleadings by both sides.The court passed the order while hearing a plea filed by former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee challenging the EC’s decision to freeze the TMC’s name and “flowers and grass” election symbol.The development comes days after the Election Commission temporarily allotted Mamata Banerjee’s faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “football player” symbol. The rival faction was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “envelope” symbol.Earlier, in an interim order, the poll panel froze the All India Trinamool Congress name and its “flowers and grass” symbol after recognising a factional dispute within the party. Neither faction can use the original name or symbol until the dispute is finally settled.The temporary arrangement will apply to the upcoming bypolls, with candidates from the two factions contesting under the separate names and symbols allotted by the Commission.
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The Election Commission has been hearing competing claims over control of the party, its name and election symbol. Both factions have submitted documents and appeared before the Commission during the proceedings.The dispute reached the poll panel after rival groups staked claims to control the TMC. The Commission subsequently sought submissions on issues including organisational control, authorised office-bearers, party assets, the party name and its election symbol.
