The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : JD(S) faction loses symbol

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Friday, Apr 25, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

JD(S) faction loses symbol

Special Correspondent

Order issued by State poll commission

Faction is led by M.P.Veerendrakumar
Commission had earlier frozen the symbol

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Election Commission has issued orders divesting a faction of the Janata Dal (Secular), which is part of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala, off its election symbol of the ‘Women with sheaf of paddy’.

An official press note said here on Thursday that State Election Commissioners P. Kamal Kutty had issued orders divesting the JD(S) faction off the symbol following the Central Election Commission’s decision to give the symbol to the Deve Gowda faction of the Janata Dal (S). The commission had earlier frozen the symbol following dispute between the two sides.

Following a split in the State party, JD(S) national general secretary Kunwar Danish Ali had written to the State Election Commission requesting him to allot the symbol to the faction led by A. Neelalohithadasan Nadar.

M.P. Veerendrakumar, leader of the rival JD(S) faction, also approached the commission seeking allotment of the symbol to them. In the meanwhile, Mr. Nadar joined the BSP and the national leadership of the JD(S) informed the commission that N. Hariharan had been appointed State president of the party.

When Mr. Veerendrakumar approached the Kerala High Court following freezing of the symbol, the court directed the commission to take a decision in the matter. Since the power to allow election symbols is vested with the Central Election Commission, the State Commission had sought its views in the matter.

The Central Commission issued notice to the rival sides at the national level and rejected the arguments of the faction led by Surendra Mohan as they could not produce the necessary documents to prove their claim. The decision was later communicated to the State Commission. The decision to divest the State JD(S) led Mr. Veerendra Kumar off the symbol was taken in the light of this communication, the press note said.

To move CEC

The Janata Dal (Secular) faction led by M.P. Veerendrakumar said that it would move the Central Election Commission against the decision of the State Election Commission.

In a statement here, JD(S) State general secretary Varughese George said the State Election Commission had no authority to cancel the election symbol. The party would question the decision using all legal means, he said.

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