EC's criteria

Sir, - The derecognition of the CPI(M) as a national party brings to the fore the irrationality of the criteria so far adopted by the Election Commission for recognition of a political party as national or state party. All States/UTs do not have the same population nor is it the same for all constituencies. Therefore, any criteria based on the number of seats or number of States/UTs is bound to lead to illogical conclusions. It is time for the EC to recognise that the Symbol Order is simply outdated and needs to be thrown into the dustbin of history. What is needed is a fresh approach to the problem of classification of registered parties, going back to the first principles.

The Lok Sabha represents the people of India as a whole. Any political party, which secures, say 5 per cent of the valid votes cast in a general election, irrespective of the constituencies or States where it has secured its votes, should be classified as a national party, and should enjoy the privilege of a common symbol, wherever it puts up a candidate.

Assembly elections are no longer coterminus with the Lok Sabha election. Therefore, they can be dealt with separately. Any party which secures, say 5 per cent of the votes in the State Assembly election should be categorised as a State party for that State and should have the privilege of a common symbol in that State.

A national party, by definition, may contest some, if not all, Assembly elections and qualify to be a State party in some States also. Similarly a State party may contest the Lok Sabha elections and, in certain circumstances, qualify to become a national party.

If a national party is also a State party in some States, it should be allotted the same symbol to fight the Assembly election in those States. Similarly a State party, which has been recognised as a State party in more than one State, may be allotted the same symbol in all of them.

It is important that the status of all parties should be reviewed immediately after every Lok Sabha and Assembly election, since the political situation changes from election to election.

Another reform in the election procedure is overdue. The present practice of mentioning party and symbol in the nomination form should be done away with, as even the major national parties are unable to make a final choice of candidates in time which gives rise to many complications - sometimes to piquant situations. I think that the candidate should be asked to submit the party's ticket only on the date of scrutiny and the R.O. should then allot the symbols.

Syed Shahabuddin,

New Delhi

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