Election Commission tweaks rules for allocation of symbols to new parties
- The Election Commission of India brought in new rules for allocation of symbols to Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs)
Key Highlights
- EC making it mandatory for Political parties to furnish:
- Audited accounts of last three financial years
- Expenditure statements of last two elections
- The signature of the authorised office-bearer of the party along with the application form for symbols.
Background
- RUPPs are either newly-registered parties or those which have not secured enough percentage of votes in the Assembly or general election to become a State party
- Or those that have never contested elections after being registered.
- Common symbols are provided to RUPPs based upon an undertaking that they would put up “at least 5% of total candidates with regard to said Legislative Assembly election of a State”.
- Earlier the RUPPs were giving these details separately.
- Now these details are being made part of the format of application for common symbols.
- The EC receives the applications from RUPPs in prescribed proforma for allotment of symbols under Provisions of Para 10B of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968.
- In September 2022, the EC had de-listed 86 non-existent RUPPs and declared another 253 as ‘Inactive RUPPs’.
Prelims Takeaway
- Registered Unrecognised Political Parties
- Election commission