The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the Returning Officers (ROs) to freeze the ‘glass tumbler’ symbol in all the Assembly segments falling under the Lok Sabha (LS) constituencies where the Jana Sena Party (JSP) has put up its candidates and in all such LS constituencies consisting of the Assembly segments where the JSP fielded its candidates so that the symbol cannot be allotted to independent candidates or candidates of Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPP).
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.
