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EXCLUSIVE | Only ten parties in Maharashtra to get reserved election symbols : 376 parties to contest elections using different symbols

Sharad Pawar’s party loses recognition even as a State-level party

Mr Pritam Nachankar, Mumbai

Mumbai, 21 st March – Only ten national and State recognised political parties will get reserved election symbols for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The other 376 non-recognised but registered political parties will have to contest elections on free symbols, which means candidates of different parties will have to contest elections on different election symbols in different constituencies. ‘NCP Sharadchandra Pawar’ Party of MP Sharad Pawar has lost recognition even as a State-level party.

The ten recognised parties with their symbols in Maharashtra

AAP’s Broom, Bahujan Samajwadi Party’s Elephant, BJP’s Lotus, Communist Party of India’s Sickle and Ears of Corn, Congress Party’s Hand, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)’s Clock, Shiv Sena’s (Shinde faction) Bow and Arrow, Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Party’s Torch, MNS Party’s Engine; and National People’s Party’s Book are the recognised parties with their official election symbols in Maharashtra. These parties are considered national and State-level parties; therefore, their candidates will be able to use that symbol to contest elections from whichever constituency they select.

NCP Sharadchandra Pawar Party’s State-level status

Sharad Pawar is the most senior leader in Maharashtra. He was elected as the State Chief Minister four times; however, his party viz. NCP Sharadchandra Pawar has been de-recognised. NCP was earlier de-recognised as a national party.

After Ajit Pawar’s breakaway from NCP and forming his own NCP faction, the Election Commission declared the Ajit Pawar faction is the ‘real NCP’, giving it control over the party name and symbol (a clock)

Ajit Pawar’s breakaway adversely affected Sharad Pawar and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) no longer is considered even a State-level party.

 Supreme Court’s decision gives some solace to Sharadchandra Pawar faction

The Election Commission has granted the symbol of the trumpet to the NCP Sharadchandra Pawar (SP) faction. They filed a petition in the Supreme Court to get back its name i.e. NCP and its symbol, the clock. The decision on the petition is pending, and the Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to allot the symbol of the trumpet only to the NCP – SP faction; therefore, although the NCP – SP faction is not recognised as a national/state-level party for Parliamentary elections, candidates of the NCP – SP faction will be able to contest elections with the symbol of the trumpet.

Approval necessary for election symbol – Election Officer

Even if the party is not recognised at the national/state level, its official candidates will have to get approval from the Election Commission to use the same symbol in all constituencies, informed Sharad Dalwi, Dy Chief Election Officer.

Criterion for recognised parties

Recognition at the National level

1.The party should have obtained at least 6% votes in the last Parliamentary or State Legislative Assembly elections, at least in 4 States; besides winning 4 Parliamentary seats.

2.The party should have won at least two seats from three different States.

State-level recognition

1.Obtaining at least 6% votes in State Assembly elections and winning at least 2 seats

2.Should have won at least 3% seats of the total seats in the last State Assembly elections.

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