NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Friday directed the Election Commission to accommodate the demand of three registered but unrecognised political parties, including Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam, for a fixed symbol in their particular states.
A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice P. Sathasivam asked the Election Commission to allow Praja Rajyam in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil star Vijaykanth's DMDK and Maharashtra's Lok Satta Party to have their respective symbols of choice in the three states to the extent possible.
The three parties had approached the poll panel, asking for a train engine (Praja Rajyam), drum (DMDK) and whistle (Lok Satta Party) as their symbols - but the Commission had refused, saying that only recognised national and state-level parties are entitled to have a fixed and common symbol.
The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order of the Election Commission stipulates that a political outfit would be recognised as a state-level party only if it has secured at least six percent of the total votes polled in the state besides winning at least two seats in the previous assembly elections or one seat in the Lok Sabha in the previous general elections.
The Supreme Court's order is only for the April-May Lok Sabha election.