Will Consider Bhim Army Chief's Common Symbol Plea: Poll Panel To Court
NDTV
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad has said that the party was "suffering irreparable losses" due to the absence of any common election symbol.
The Election Commission (EC) told the Delhi High Court today that it will consider in accordance with law Chandrashekhar Azad's application for allotment of a common symbol for his political party for the upcoming assembly elections in five states.
Counsel for the Election Commission told Justice Prateek Jalan, who was hearing the Bhim Army Chief's plea for allotment of a common election symbol for his ''Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram)'', that applications for allotment of symbols for four states -- Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur - are now open for consideration and the process for Uttar Pradesh will start on November 14.
Considering EC's stand, the judge disposed of the petition, observing that the petitioner's application may be considered by the commission in terms of the Symbols Order and other applicable laws.
Lawyer Sidhant Kumar, appearing for the EC, said that there is a separate process of allotment for each assembly election and, therefore, while the petitioner's plea for common symbol for his unrecognised, registered party "could be considered" in accordance with law, there can't be any "entitlement" to seek one.
