The EC in the Supreme Court on Friday rejected the plea of four smaller parties in Tamil Nadu for allotting them the same symbol for coming Assembly elections, which was given them in the last Assembly polls.
Though a bench of Justices Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Joseph deferred its order for interim direction on four Tamil Nadu Parties, the court said the main issue relating to the right to get a “common symbol” by unrecognised registered state parties would be decided later as at least 13 smaller parties form different states have challenged EC’s 2000 and 2005 amendments in the rules relating to allotment of symbols. While DMDK of Tamil films star Vijayakanth demanded “drum” symbol, KMK asked for the symbol of “gas-cylinder.” Similarly, MMK and VCK sought repetition of the symbol of “candle” and “star” to them.
In a virtual rejection to their plea, EC counsel Ashok Desai said it was entirely the discretion of the poll panel to decide which symbol has to be given to a unrecognised registered party from among the 53 “free symbol” with it and the court has very little role on the issue.