SEC allots free, common symbols to three parties for MPTC and ZPTC elections

The State Election Commission on Friday allotted ‘bat’, ‘battery torch’ and ‘gas cylinder’ as free, common symbols to three registered political parties — Jateeya Sama Samajam Party (JSSP), Bharatha Chaitanya Yuvajana Party (BCYP) and Rashtriya Praja Congress (Secular) (RPC-S) respectively for the elections to the MPTCs and ZPTCs for which the notification is scheduled to be issued on October 19.

State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha stated in the Symbol Order that the above parties, which had no reserved symbols, requested the SEC to allot a common symbol to their candidates and deposited ₹1 lakh each with an undertaking that they were agreeing to non-allotment of symbols and forfeiture of their deposits in the event of their failure to field candidates in minimum number of constituencies as prescribed.

Accordingly, the symbols were allotted to the parties. It was made clear that the allotment of symbols was a one-time facility and the parties would not be automatically eligible to be given the same symbol in subsequent ordinary / casual elections.

The SEC also mentioned in its order that the free symbols allotted to the candidates of JSSP, BCYP and RPC-S would be available for allotment to the candidates set up by other parties / independent candidates in those other constituencies where they (JSSP, BCYP and RPC-S) did not set up their candidates.