By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, March 16: The Election‘ Commission of India has informed the Andhra Pradesh High Court that there is no provision in the Election Symbols (reservation and allotment) Order, 1968, to allot a common free symbol to an unrecognised political party even though it is registered.
The EC submitted a counter affidavit pursuant to a notice of the High Court.
The court had issued the notice after taking up a petition filed by the Praja Rajyam challenging the order of the EC which left it without a symbol. The affidavit said a common symbol was allotted to the TRS earlier as it contested in local bodies elections and a by-election to the Assembly. Since the PR has not contested any elections, it is not eligible for a free common symbol.
However, a division bench comprising Justice B. Prakash Rao and Justice G. Bhavani Prasad of the High Court decided to continue hearing the petition. The EC told the court that a political party would be recognised, and a common symbol given only after assessing its poll performance within six years of its registration.
Meanwhile, the PR withdrew its petition from Supreme Court on the same issue as the law does not permit a petitioner to file a petition in the apex court when a similar petition is pending in a High Court.
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