MNS prayers answered; party welcomes Rail Engine symbol

MUMBAI: The three-year old Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), known for its strident anti-north Indian campaign, has welcomed the Supreme Court directive to the Election Commission, to allot it a common symbol for the October 13 Maharashtra Assembly elections.

"We feel relieved after the Court directed the Commission to assign 'rail engine' as the election symbol for our party," MNS spokesperson Shirish Parkar told media.

In the last Lok Sabha polls, some independent candidates who were given the symbol, ate into MNS votes, he said. However, with a common symbol, it would be easy for the MNS to campaign, Parkar said.

The party had filed a petition in the apex court, seeking allotment of a common symbol for the polls.

As per the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 2005, a common symbol is allotted to a recognised party which wins six per cent votes in the previous election, besides returning at least two candidates to the Assembly and a candidate to the Lok Sabha.

As MNS failed to meet the criterion, the Commission rejected its request for an exclusive symbol after which the party went to the apex court.