Mamata Banerjee Challenges Election Commission's Order Freezing Trinamool Congress' Name and Symbol

Mamata Banerjee has challenged in the Supreme Court the Election Commission's interim order freezing the name and symbol of the Trinamool Congress (TMC )'Joda Phool Aur Ghaas '. On Monday, senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the matter in the Supreme Court on behalf of Mamata Banerjee and sought an early hearing. Chief Justice Surya Kant assured the matter will be heard soon. While placing the matter before the court, Kapil Sibal said that the Election Commission had started hearing the dispute in June. The Mamata Banerjee faction had filed its detailed reply before the Commission in July. After this, the Commission did not take any decision for several months. According to Sibal, as soon as the notification for the by-election to Nandigram and Reginagar Assembly seats in West Bengal was issued, the Election Commission issued an order freezing the party's name and symbol. By-elections to both seats are to be held on 6 October. Kapil Sibal questioned the Election Commission's decision and asked the Supreme Court to put an immediate stay on the matter. Chief Justice Surya Kant said that the Commission was not stopping the debate on the merits of the case.