Janata parivar reunion stuck in symbolism?

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav's argument that Janata Parivar merger should be delayed until after the Bihar polls, on the ground that SP and RJD would stand to lose their respective 'reserved' symbol, stands on shaky ground as rules allow them to retain either of their poll symbols. With the Janata Parivar keen to have SP's poll symbol, senior Election Commission officials on Monday said all it needed to do was state its preference for the 'cycle' in its merger proposal to the EC, which would favourably consider the request.

"There is no reason for the commission not to grant them their preferred symbol, what with the party that holds the symbol being on board," an EC official told TOI, citing Para 16 of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968. According to this provision, when two or more political parties, one or some or all of which are recognized, amalgamate into a new political party, the commission may, after hearing its representatives, decide whether the newly-formed party should be a national or state outfit, as well as the symbol to be allotted to it.

Raising doubts over the merger of Janata Parivar before the Bihar assembly polls, due later this year, Yadav had on Sunday cited "technical issues" to argue that it may have to wait till after the election.

As per a 1977 Supreme Court judgment, two or more parties seeking to merge into a new political entity are required to hold consultations with their local-level formations and submit documents to this effect along with their merger proposal to the EC. The EC would then, upon hearing such parties and others, decide on the status of recognition and poll symbol of the merged entity.