The Calcutta High Court has extended, as of Monday, the Mamata Banerjee‑led faction’s permission to draw from three party bank accounts until January 29, 2027. The order, originally issued on July 9, allows the faction to cover daily expenses under a special officer appointed by the court.
The extension comes amid a protracted dispute between the Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee camps over the Trinamool Congress symbol. On September 17, the Election Commission issued an interim directive suspending both factions’ use of the name “All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Flowers and Grass” symbol until the matter is resolved.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya noted that the court will revisit the case on December 14, 2026. He also warned that if the Commission later decides which faction holds the symbol, the parties can seek to modify or vacate the interim order.
The Mamata camp argues that freezing the accounts was a political tactic, while the state government maintains that the accounts, held in the name of AITC, should be barred after the ECI order. Senior advocate Shoeb Alam said the core issues remain pending before the Commission.
Financial records show that ₹30 crore had been deposited in the accounts following the Ritabrata faction’s complaint to the Bidhannagar Police, and ₹35 crore was transferred to the ED‑charged company Leaps and Bounds in the school‑jobs scam.
The Supreme Court had earlier upheld the special officer’s role after an appeal from the rival faction. The next hearing on December 14, 2026 will decide whether the Election Commission’s final determination allows one faction to claim the party symbol.