The All India Secular Front (AISF), which has the only MLA in the West Bengal Assembly, on Monday approached the Calcutta High Court against the Election Commission's (ECI) decision to allot 'Lifafa' election symbol to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress rebel faction.

Last week, the Election Commission had allotted the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and 'Envelope' election symbol to the Ritabrata Banerjee faction. At the same time, AISF was given a new election symbol 'Almari'.

The AISF leadership, especially party MLA Navsad Siddiqui, objected to this decision. Siddiqui had reached the Assembly in 2021 and 2026 by winning the election from Bhangar Assembly seat of South 24 Parganas district on the 'Envelope' election symbol. On Monday afternoon, Siddiqui challenged the Election Commission's decision by filing a petition in a single bench of Justice Krishna Rao.

Siddiqui said, “AISF has been contesting elections on the 'Envelope' election symbol since the formation of the party in 2021. I also reached the Assembly by winning on this symbol in 2021 and 2026. In such a situation, how can the same election symbol be given to the Democratic Trinamool Congress, formed a few days ago?”

Last week, the Election Commission had also changed the election symbol of another party of West Bengal, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP). Humayun Kabir's party was allotted the 'Table' election symbol instead of the 'Whistle' symbol it had earlier. However, Kabir did not raise any objection to this change.

Let us tell you that AJUP is contesting the Rezinagar assembly by-election, while AISF is contesting the by-election on Nandigram assembly seat of East Midnapore district next month. Voting will be held on both Nandigram and Rejinagar seats on October 6 and counting of votes will take place on October 9.