The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday has directed the Returning Officers (ROs) to freeze the ‘glass tumbler’ symbol in favour of Jana Sena Party, wherever it is contesting.
In the order, the EC directed that only Jana Sena Party candidates be allotted glass tumbler symbol in all the assembly segments falling under the Lok Sabha (LS) constituencies and all Lok Sabha constituencies, consisting of assembl segmens, where the party has put up its candidates.
As such, the symbol cannot be allotted to independent candidates or candidates of Registered Unrecognized Political Parties in these constituencies.
The order came in the wake of a submission made by the ECI’s standing counsel to the Andhra Pradesh High Court (HC) on April 30 that the issue would be resolved within 24 hours during the hearing of a house motion petition filed by the JSP.
Following the order, the ROs have to revise the allotment of the glass symbol to the contesting candidates by drawing reference to Rule 10 (5) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, Para 18(b) and (c) of the Symbols Order, 1968 and Article 324 of the Constitution.
However, there is a catch.
What about the Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies where the Jana Sena Party is contesting, but its allies – Telugu Desam Party and Bharatiya Janata Party are contesting?
According to reports, there are independent candidates who were allotted glass tumbler symbol in at least 50 assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies where the TDP and BJP are contesting.
This might impact the winning chances of the TDP and BJP in these seats, because the people, especially die-hard fans of Pawan Kalyan and Jana Sena, might vote for independent candidates with glass tumbler, thinking that they are Jana Sena Party candidates.
The Jana Sena Party moved the high court seeking a direction to the ECI not to allot the glass tumbler symbol to any candidate across the state, as the Jana Sena Party is in alliance with the other parties.
The high court posted the hearing on the issue to Thursday.
