Supreme Court to fast-track Mamata Banerjee's challenge to ECI's party name freeze

In a hearing before a Supreme Court bench chaired by Chief Justice Surya Kant, senior counsel Kapil Sibal urged an expedited hearing on Mamata Banerjee's September 18 petition against the Election Commission of India's freeze on the Trinamool Congress's original name and emblem. Sibal explained that the commission's proceedings started in June and that Banerjee's group filed its response in July, yet the freeze was imposed after the by-poll schedule was announced.

The commission's September 17 interim order barred both competing factions from using the AITC name and the 'Flowers & Grass' symbol, assigning temporary alternatives for the upcoming elections. The court indicated the case will be listed for argument, giving each side a chance to present its case. Banerjee's plea seeks to restore the party's original identity and symbol ahead of the by-polls.