European Commission relaxes common symbol rules for unrecognized parties

New Delhi: election committeeIn a move to strengthen genuine registered unrecognized political parties (RUPP), the Electoral Symbols Order was amended on Saturday to allow all candidates fielded by the RUPP to use common symbols, provided that the party obtained at least 1% of the total valid votes cast in the two previous elections held in a given state. Earlier, the clause allowed such a concession for a third time only if the RUPP had contested a common symbol in the state’s two previous polls and secured at least 1% of valid votes in the last held elections. Under paragraph 10(B) of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, all candidates of the RUPP who have previously used this concession in any two Lok Sabha elections, any two Assembly elections or Lok Sabha elections and Assembly polls in the state can use the common symbol, at the option of the political party.Sources in the EC said the amendment was aimed at promoting the RUPP which performed well in the first election using common symbols but failed to secure at least 1% of valid votes in subsequent state elections. “It is felt that even if they manage to meet the 1% mark in the last two votes, they must be given a third chance,” a European Commission official said.“The idea is to promote genuine RUPP participation in democratic and electoral processes. This is in stark contrast to the stringent actions launched against defunct and inactive RUPPs over the past year, in which a total of 808 RUPPs were delisted. The reason for delisting was that RUPPs failed to comply with the statutory conditions of their registration, did not participate in elections in the past six years and/or failed to submit annual financial statements, such as contribution reports, annual audit reports and expenditure statements, to the Electoral Commission. The RUPP is entitled to benefits such as income tax breaks, a common poll symbol and preference for independent candidates on ballot papers.