Registered unrecognised parties may opt for common symbol for their candidates

As per the order,the candidates set up by a registered unrecognised political party at the general election to the Legislative Assembly of the state or the House of the People,may be allotted a common symbol from the list of free symbols with certain conditions.

In case of general elections to the Legislative Assembly,the party has to field candidates at least in 10 per cent of the constituencies in the state,subject to a minimum of five constituencies in states having 40 or less seats.

In case of general parliamentary elections,the party must field candidates on at least 10 per cent of the constituencies in the state,subject to a minimum of two constituencies in states having less than five parliamentary constituencies.

In cases of both parliamentary and Assembly election,the intimation with regard to the serial numbers and names of the constituencies concerned would be intimated by the party to the ECI latest by three clear days before the date on which the notification of the election is issued. The party shall give the names of 10 symbols,in order of preference,from out of the list of free symbols notified by the commission for the election.

As per the order,the party will also have to give an undertaking that if it does not fulfill the prescribed conditions,its candidates will not be entitled to allotment of a common symbol,in addition,the party shall be liable for such punitive action as may be permissible under the law for making a false declaration before the commission.

“If more than one political party give preference for the same symbol,then the question of allotment of the symbol to one of the parties shall be decided through lottery system,” said Umesh Sinha,Chief Electoral officer,UP.

Sinha has forwarded copies of the order to all the districts magistrates in UP as Assembly elections are scheduled here next year.

If it is not possible for the commission for any reason to allot a common symbol to the candidates of a party from out of the list of symbols for which it has given its preference,some other symbol from the list of free symbols may be allotted to that party in consultation with that party,Sinha added.

As per the order,the symbol allotted as a common symbol to the candidates of a party shall be available for allotment to candidates of other parties or independent candidates in those other constituencies in which that party has not fielded its candidates.