No common symbol to Swaraj India candidates, ECI tells HC

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that it cannot allot a common symbol to an unrecognised party.

The poll panel was hearing of plea of Yogendra Yadav-led Swaraj India, which challenged the Delhi Election Commission’s denial of a common symbol to its candidates for the upcoming civic polls.

For a common symbol, the party has to secure at least six percent votes or have at least two MLAS, an ECI official said.

Swaraj India told a Division Bench, headed by Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed, that if the party does not get a common symbol, then its candidate would be treated as independent.

The court will continue the hearing on Thursday. Swaraj India is set to contest the April 22 municipal polls in Delhi.

Its lawyer Ahas told the court that the Election Commission allows newly registered political parties to have a common symbol for all candidates in the first election.