Context

Questions have been raised about election symbols allotment to ‘registered unrecognized parties’. Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK)  got a new symbol, but  Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) was denied.

Revised Rules for Allocation of Election Symbols

• Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has revised rules for allocating common symbols to Registered and Unregistered Political Parties, subject to certain conditions.
  • In Maharashtra, the ECI allowed the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena to retain the party’s traditional symbol, while the Udbhav Tackeray faction was allotted a new symbol.

Provision of Election Symbols Allotment To Political Parties

• Allocated by: The ECI is responsible for the allotment of symbols as per the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
  • It is meant to provide for specification, reservation, choice and allotment of symbols at elections in Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies, for the recognition of political parties.
• Recognition to the Political Parties: A party is recognised as a ‘national’ or ‘state’ party under the provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 (Symbols Order) by the ECI. 
• Classification: Election Symbols can be either reserved, meaning they are exclusive to a recognised political party, or ‘free’.

• • Exclusive Election Symbols: Recognised national and state parties get exclusive symbols. 
    • Example: During selecting an election symbol for the 1993 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Samajwadi Party leader picked the symbol of a bicycle, believing it would represent the farmers, the poor, laborers, and the middle class.
  • Non-Exclusive Election Symbols: For registered but unrecognized political parties, the free symbol is allotted as a common symbol during an election if that party contests in two Lok Sabha constituencies 
  • or in 5% of seats to the Assembly of a State as the case may be.
    • These parties are newly registered or have not secured enough percentage of votes in the Assembly or General elections to fulfill the prescribed criteria for a state party. 

• • • After being selected by parties, in subsequent elections, these symbols are declared free again for others to choose.
• Concession on a Common Symbol: Rule 10B of the Symbols Order provides that the concession of a common free symbol shall be available to a ‘registered unrecognized party’ for two general elections. 
  • Secured Specific Votes: Also, a party shall be eligible for a common symbol in any subsequent general election if it had secured at least 1% of votes polled in the State on the previous occasion when the party availed of this facility. 
  • Time Framework: Such an unrecognized party should however apply for a symbol every time in the prescribed format. This application can be made any time during the period commencing six months prior to the expiry of the term of the Lok Sabha or State Assembly as the case may be. 
    • The symbols are thereafter allotted on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis.
• On Split: When a recognised political party splits, the Election Commission takes the decision to assign the symbol. 
  • Example: The Congress party, in the first elections of 1952, had a pair of bulls as its symbols. Following splits in the party over the years, the current symbol of hand eventually went to the party.
• Preference of Political Parties on Election Symbols:The 1968 order also states that a party may, can 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.
  • The ECI may consider allotment as its common symbol if there is, in its opinion, no objection in allotting such a symbol.
  • Symbols proposed by the parties should have no resemblance to the existing reserved symbols or free symbols, or any religious or communal connotation, or depict any bird or animal.
• Significance of election Symbols: In the largest democracy where a sizable population is still illiterate, election symbols play a crucial role in the voting process. 

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