Polity and Governance › Elections
हिन्दी — Read in HindiPolitical parties and their funding
Political parties as the law sees them: registration, recognition, symbols and splits, and how parties are funded.
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Party splits and the Symbols Order
Copy link to Party splits and the Symbols OrderPrelims
Under paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, the Election Commission of India (ECI) decides which rival group within a recognised party is that party and is entitled to its name and symbol.
- In Sadiq Ali v. Election Commission of India (1971) the Supreme Court upheld this power and accepted a test of majority support in the party's legislative and organisational wings.
- Pending a final decision, the ECI may freeze the name and symbol and give each group an interim name and symbol, often ahead of by elections.
What changed
28 Sep 2026Newnewly added
- On 17 September 2026 the ECI froze the name and symbol of the All India Trinamool Congress by an interim order, on rival claims from two groups.
- On 18 September it allotted the two groups interim names and symbols for the by elections.
- On 28 September the Supreme Court gave the factions four weeks for their pleadings and the ECI three months to decide the dispute.
The Hindu, 28 Sep 2026: TMC symbol row: Supreme Court gives rival factions four weeks to file pleadings, ECI three months to decide dispute (opens in a new tab) · LiveLaw, 24 Sep 2026: ECI must decide soon: Supreme Court on the Trinamool Congress symbol freeze (opens in a new tab) · LiveLaw, 28 Sep 2026: Supreme Court daily round up, September 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Also filed elsewhere
- The anti defection law · on Presiding officers, privileges and anti defection
The Tenth Schedule was added by the 52nd Amendment (1985) to stop legislators changing parties for office or money.