Supreme Court Orders ECI to Resolve Trinamool Leadership Dispute Within Three Months

The Supreme Court has asked the ECI to settle the leadership clash in the AITC within three months, after the parties finish filing their pleadings. Key Developments On 28 September 2026 , a three‑judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant gave the rival factions four weeks to submit any additional responses, affidavits or counter‑affidavits. After the four‑week filing period, the bench directed the ECI to decide the controversy within three months . Senior advocates’ requests for a longer time‑frame (five‑six months for the ECI, six weeks for the Ritabrata Banerjee faction) were rejected. The court also declined to stay the interim stay order dated 17 September 2026 that froze the original party symbol ‘flowers and grass’. Important Facts The dispute pits former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against Ritabrata Banerjee , who leads a rival group of legislators. The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 was invoked to freeze the original symbol during ongoing by‑elections . On 18 September 2026 , the ECI allotted new names and symbols: ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ with a football player symbol for Mamata’s camp, and ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ with an envelope symbol for Ritabrata’s camp. UPSC Relevance This case illustrates the interaction between the judiciary, the election authority, and internal party democracy—core topics in GS Paper II (Polity) . Aspirants should note how the Supreme Court can direct administrative bodies to ensure a level playing field during elections. The freezing of a party symbol reflects the legal safeguards for political parties under the Representation of the People Act. Understanding the procedural timelines (four‑week filing, three‑month decision) helps in answering questions on election law and dispute resolution mechanisms. Way Forward The ECI must examine the submitted pleadings, verify the legitimacy of each faction’s claim, and issue a final order on the rightful name and symbol before the next round of by‑elections conclude. Both camps are expected to comply with the court’s deadline, or risk further judicial intervention. For UPSC, tracking the outcome will provide a concrete example of how constitutional bodies enforce democratic norms during intra‑party conflicts.