ECI allots new symbols to AJUP, AISF ahead of Bengal bypolls
Synopsis
With Bengal's Rejinagar and Nandigram bypolls just weeks away, the Election Commission's symbol reshuffle has triggered a political flashpoint. AISF's Nawsad Siddique is threatening court action after the 'envelope' symbol — under which he won twice — was handed to a Ritabrata Banerjee-led rival faction. The dispute exposes the fragile identity politics of smaller Bengal parties ahead of a closely watched October 6 contest.
Key Takeaways
The ECI on 19 September 2026 allotted the symbol 'table' to AJUP and 'almirah' to AISF , replacing their earlier symbols.
AJUP's Golam Nabi Azad will contest the Rejinagar bypoll in Murshidabad under the new 'table' symbol on 6 October .
AISF's Mohammad Sabe Miraj Ali Khan will contest the Nandigram bypoll in East Midnapore under the new 'almirah' symbol.
AISF's Nawsad Siddique has protested the loss of the 'envelope' symbol, which was reassigned to expelled TMC legislator Ritabrata Banerjee's faction, now called Democratic Trinamool Congress .
Siddique has won from Bhangar under the 'envelope' symbol in both 2021 and 2026 elections, and says he may seek court intervention .
Both bypolls are on 6 October , with results on 9 October 2026 .
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday, 19 September 2026, allotted new free symbols to two West Bengal-based political parties — the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), founded by Humayun Kabir, and the All India Secular Front (AISF) — ahead of the upcoming assembly bypolls scheduled for 6 October.
New Symbols and the Reason for the Change
The AJUP has been assigned the symbol 'table', replacing its earlier 'whistle'. The change becomes significant in the context of the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll in Murshidabad district. Kabir had contested and won simultaneously from both the Naoda and Rejinagar constituencies in the earlier election, using the 'whistle' symbol. He subsequently chose to retain Naoda, triggering the Rejinagar bypoll. AJUP's candidate Golam Nabi Azad will now contest the Rejinagar seat under the new 'table' symbol.
The AISF, meanwhile, has been allotted the symbol 'almirah' to replace its earlier 'envelope'. The ECI had recently assigned the 'envelope' symbol — along with the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' — to a faction led by expelled All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Ritabrata Banerjee. With the 'envelope' no longer available to the AISF, the Commission has assigned it the 'almirah' instead. AISF has fielded Mohammad Sabe Miraj Ali Khan as its candidate for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll in East Midnapore, also set for 6 October, with results on 9 October.
AISF Protests the Decision
The symbol swap has drawn sharp criticism from Nawsad Siddique, the AISF's sole member in the West Bengal Assembly. Siddique, who represents the Bhangar Assembly Constituency in South 24 Parganas, argued that he had contested and won under the 'envelope' symbol in both the 2021 and 2026 assembly elections, making the Commission's reassignment of the symbol to Banerjee's breakaway faction deeply unfair.
'AISF was founded much before the Ritabrata-led faction surfaced. Hence, under no justification can they be entitled to the 'envelope' symbol, denying AISF's right over it,' Siddique said. The party has already formally written to the ECI, and Siddique indicated he may seek judicial intervention if the Commission does not reconsider.
Context: Bengal Bypolls on 6 October
The twin bypolls — Rejinagar in Murshidabad and Nandigram in East Midnapore — are scheduled for 6 October 2026, with counting on 9 October. Both constituencies are politically sensitive: Rejinagar carries the legacy of Kabir's double-win, while Nandigram holds historic significance as the seat associated with the rise of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the TMC. Symbol allocations at this late stage add an administrative layer of uncertainty for smaller parties.
What Happens Next
AISF's legal challenge, if filed, would need swift adjudication given the October 6 poll date. The ECI is unlikely to revisit a settled symbol allocation without a court direction. For AJUP, the 'table' symbol must now be communicated to voters in Rejinagar with minimal campaigning time remaining. The bypolls will serve as a modest but meaningful indicator of smaller parties' organisational capacity in a Bengal political landscape dominated by the TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Point of View
Built over years of voter recognition. The ECI's decision to award the 'envelope' to a freshly minted faction over an established party raises legitimate procedural questions, and Siddique's threatened legal challenge is not mere posturing. More broadly, the episode underscores how symbol politics in Bengal is intensifying as smaller outfits fight for relevance between the TMC juggernaut and a resurgent BJP. A court stay this close to polling day would create administrative chaos — which is precisely why the ECI should have anticipated this dispute and resolved it earlier.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the ECI change symbols for AJUP and AISF ahead of Bengal bypolls?
The ECI allotted new symbols to AJUP and AISF because their earlier symbols became unavailable or were reassigned. AJUP's 'whistle' was replaced by 'table', while AISF's 'envelope' was given to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led Democratic Trinamool Congress faction, prompting the Commission to assign 'almirah' to AISF instead.
What is the Rejinagar bypoll and why is it being held?
The Rejinagar Assembly bypoll in Murshidabad district is scheduled for 6 October 2026, with results on 9 October. It became necessary after AJUP founder Humayun Kabir won both the Naoda and Rejinagar seats simultaneously and chose to retain Naoda, vacating Rejinagar.
Why is AISF's Nawsad Siddique protesting the symbol change?
Siddique argues that AISF, as an older and established party, has a prior right over the 'envelope' symbol, under which he won the Bhangar Assembly seat in both 2021 and 2026. He contends the ECI had no justification to award the symbol to the newer Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction, and may challenge the decision in court.
Who are the AJUP and AISF candidates for the October bypolls?
AJUP has fielded Golam Nabi Azad for the Rejinagar bypoll in Murshidabad under the new 'table' symbol. AISF has fielded Mohammad Sabe Miraj Ali Khan for the Nandigram bypoll in East Midnapore under the new 'almirah' symbol. Both constituencies vote on 6 October 2026.
What is the Democratic Trinamool Congress, and how is it connected to this dispute?
Democratic Trinamool Congress is the name the ECI has allotted to a political faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, a legislator expelled from the All India Trinamool Congress. The ECI assigned the 'envelope' symbol to this new faction, which was previously held by AISF, directly triggering the current symbol dispute.
