Assembly elections | EC has powers to withdraw party’s symbol for abusive language, says Gopalaswami

Pointing reports of abusive language “questioning somebody’s birth,” Mr. Gopalaswami said such things are covered in the model code of conduct.

The Election Commission of India has the power to issue notice for withdrawal of a party’s symbol for abusive language against a candidate, said former Chief Election Commissioner N.Gopalaswami. Speaking at a webinar on ‘Challenges in ensuring enhanced voter participation’ — a public interest initiative on the ‘Right to Vote’ by Nippon Paint and powered by The Hindu — on Saturday, Mr.Gopalaswami said symbol order is under the powers of the Election Commission. “They cannot de-recognise a party. They can take away the symbol. I hope at some point of time the Election Commission takes things at that extreme and removes and in some cases comes on heavily, disassociating a particular party from a symbol, which will be in our circumstances a big blow. That step has to be taken wherever there is egregious violence or misconduct,” he said.