The Hindu : New Delhi News : `Poll symbol changed'

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Saturday, Mar 31, 2007
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New Delhi

`Poll symbol changed'

Sandeep Joshi

Political conspiracy, alleges SP candidate Ganga Prasad

NEW DELHI: With less than a week left for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections, Ganga Prasad, a Samata Party candidate contesting from Ward No. 128 (Bindapur), is in a state of shock as his election symbol has been changed overnight. Mr. Prasad now has no clue from where to get the new posters and banners printed.

"I have already printed posters, banners and pamphlets with money donated by my supporters. I have no money left for getting the new campaign material as my election symbol has been changed. I have been canvassing for over 10 days and now I am left with no time to cover my whole constituency and tell the voters that my new election symbol is a fan," he rued.

Mr. Prasad, who met senior Delhi State Election Commission officials on Friday and pleaded that he be allowed to retain the `mashaal' as his symbol, sees political conspiracy against him. "A large number of people residing in Bindapur are from Poorvanchal. Being from the same region, I enjoy considerable popularity among the voters there, who easily recognise the Samata Party's official symbol `mashaal'. This has been done to confuse the voters," alleged Mr. Prasad.

Accusing the Election Commission officials of terrorising him and warning him not to raise the issue in public, Mr. Prasad said what was even more shocking was that the Commission has communicated this to him orally and not given any official letter informing him about the change in his election symbol. "I have no option but to move court against this injustice," he added.

Alleging bias in the conduct of the Delhi State Election Commission, Samata Party national secretary Shiv Kumar said his party had fielded candidates from nine wards and allotted them the party symbol. "But in six wards the Election Commission failed to allot party symbol to their candidates. Though it allotted `mashaal' to three candidates, but has already withdrawn it in one case, while the fate of two others hangs in the balance," he added.

On the other hand, the Election Commission has accepted that a mistake was committed by its returning officer in the allotment of symbol to Mr. Prasad. "The Samata Party is no longer a recognised political party. The symbol was wrongfully allotted to Mr. Prasad by the returning officer. So we had to change the symbol, which is as per the law," said a senior Delhi State Election Commission official.

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