Kolkata, Sep 23 The ISF on Wednesday urged the Calcutta High Court to direct the EC to freeze the ‘envelope’ election symbol, which has been allotted to a faction of the TMC.
The Election Commission (EC) recently allotted the Nawsad Siddiqui-led Indian Secular Front (ISF) the ‘almirah’ symbol instead of the ‘envelope’ symbol with which it contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the April Assembly polls in West Bengal.
The ISF, while moving the high court challenging the EC’s decision, questioned whether the poll panel had reasonably exercised its powers in allotting the symbol to another party.
Appearing for the EC, lawyer Anamika Pandey submitted that the ISF is an unregistered political party and, therefore, does not have the right to retain an election symbol, unlike recognised political parties such as the BJP and Congress.
She said recognised political parties have the right to retain a particular symbol.
Pandey submitted that the ‘envelope’ symbol had been allotted to the ISF only for use in two elections.
Representing the ISF, senior advocate Bikash Bhattacharya submitted that although the front may not be a registered party, it is a recognised political party and has been contesting elections with the ‘envelope’ as its symbol.
He argued that the EC, while deciding an internal dispute within the Trinamool Congress, had allotted the ‘envelope’ symbol to the Democratic Trinamool Congress, led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, questioning whether such an exercise of power was reasonable.
The poll panel on September 17 temporarily froze the Trinamool Congress name and its ‘Flowers and Grass’ election symbol after two factions of the party staked claim to the name and symbol.
Bhattacharya urged the court to direct the EC not to allot the ‘envelope’ symbol to another unregistered party for an election in which both parties are contesting.
He prayed that the ECI freeze the envelope symbol and not give it to either of the two parties.
The court adjourned the matter for a day at the EC lawyer’s request, as the hearing had been listed at short notice.
Justice Rao directed that the matter be taken up again on Thursday.
The bypolls to the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly seats are scheduled for October 6, with campaigning ending on October 4.
The ISF has fielded its candidate in the Nandigram constituency.
(PTI News)
