News:

• he Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) that secured 3.9% and 6.5% votes in Tamil Nadu in 2019 and 2021 respectively, has been allotted a new common symbol (Mike). 
• The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) that secured 1.09% and 0.99% votes in 2019 and 2021 has been denied a common symbol (Pot). This has raised questions about the allotment of symbols to ‘registered unrecognised parties’.

What do the rules specify? 

• A party is recognised as a ‘national’ or ‘state’ party under the provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 (Symbols Order) by the Election Commission of India (ECI). 
• The criteria for recognition at the State level consists of (a) winning one Lok Sabha seat for every 25 seats or 3% of Legislative Assembly seats or (b) winning one Lok Sabha or two Assembly seats along with 6% of votes polled or (c) securing 8% of votes polled in a general election. 
• Symbols are allotted to political parties and contesting candidates as per the provisions of the Symbols Order by ECI. 
• In the largest democracy where a sizeable population is still illiterate, symbols play a crucial role in the voting process. 
• A recognised political party has a reserved symbol that is not allotted to any other candidate in any constituency. For registered but unrecognised political parties, one of the free symbols is allotted as a common symbol during an election if that party contests in two Lok Sabha constituencies or in 5% of seats to the Assembly of a State as the case may be.

What is the current issue? 

• The Symbols Order provides that the concession of a common free symbol shall be available to a ‘registered unrecognised party’ for two general elections. 
• Furthermore, a party shall be eligible for a common symbol in any subsequent general election if it had secured at least 1% of votes polled in the State on the previous occasion when the party availed of this facility.

Such an unrecognised party should however apply for a symbol every time in the prescribed format. The symbols are thereafter allotted on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis.