The Hindu : Election Commission allots TRS common symbol

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 18, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Election Commission allots TRS common symbol

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 17. In a significant gain the Telangana Rashtra Samithi has been allotted a common symbol from the list of free symbols for the elections in the State, according to the Election Commission's order.

The order signed by the Chief Election Commissioner, J.M. Lyngdoh, and the two Commissioners made it clear that the facility of common symbol would be applicable to the general election to be held either to the State Legislative Assembly or to the Lok Sabha whichever was earlier. But in the event of simultaneous poll, the facility would be applicable to both of them.

The commission said it took note of the votes polled by the party in byelections to the Siddipet and Medak Assembly constituencies and the party's appeal that it had won a large number of seats in the elections to the local bodies. Although the commission was not concerned with the elections to the local bodies, in the present context the party's performance in these elections could not be ignored. It could be looked at as an index of the popular support enjoyed by the party, the commission observed.

The party had also made a solemn statement before the Andhra Pradesh High Court and the commission that it would contest from a minimum of 15 Parliamentary constituencies and 107 Assembly constituencies in the coming elections. "Having regard to these peculiar facts and circumstances and in deference to the orders passed by the High Court in writ petition no. 16128 of 2003, the commission in exercise of its powers...," the order said.

The commission has asked the TRS to intimate it of its choice of symbol to be allotted to its candidates, within two weeks from the date of receipt of the order. The allotment has been made subject to the condition that the party would put up candidates from a minimum of one-third of the total seats in the Assembly or one-third of the Lok Sabha seats allotted to the State as the case maybe. In the event of the party not being able to select the candidates, the facility of common symbol maybe withdrawn.

To avoid confusion the common symbol allotted for TRS candidates would not be available for allotment to candidates of other registered unrecognised political parties or Independent candidates in any of the constituencies.

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Andhra Pradesh