Common symbol: EC concession for unrecognised parties

In a major concession to registered but unrecognised political parties, the Election Commission has allowed their candidates to use common symbol for contesting Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
In a notification issued earlier this week, it said concession will be available to candidates put up by registered (unrecognised) parties and to unrecognised parties which were earlier recognised more than 6 years ago.
But at the same time, the poll body has laid down certain pre-conditions to grant the concession.
For assembly polls, the party has to field candidates at least in five per cent of the assembly constituencies in the state, subject to a minimum of three constituencies in states having 40 or less seats.

The party will give the names of 10 symbols, in order of preference, from out of the list of free symbols notified by the Commission, the notification said.
"Provided that a party may, if it so desires, also propose three new symbols of their choice, with the names and clear design and drawings of symbol, in the order of preference, for allotment to its candidates, which the Commission may consider for allotment as its common symbol if there is, in its opinion, no objection in allotting such symbol," the order said.
The Commission warned that the party will give an undertaking that if it does not field candidates in the minimum number of the constituencies as prescribed, its candidates will not be entitled to allotment of a common symbol. In addition, the party shall be liable for such punitive action as the Commission may consider appropriate.

For granting a common symbol in the Lok Sabha polls, the EC said the party will have to field candidates at least two parliamentary constituencies in the state in which it seeks allotment of a common symbol to its candidates.