If a JSP candidate is contesting in a LS seat, no other candidate in the Assembly segments that constitute the PC, would get ‘Glass Tumbler’.
Published May 01, 2024 | 5:16 PM ⚊ Updated May 01, 2024 | 5:16 PM
TDP chief Chandrababu, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan and TDP MLA Bala Krishna. (Supplied)
The constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, 1 May, got partial relief with the Election Commission (EC) issuing an order freezing the allotment of glass tumbler symbol to others where the Jana Sena candidates are in the fray.
Accordingly, if a Jana Sena candidate is contesting for a Lok Sabha seat, no other candidate in the Assembly segments that constitute the Parliamentary constituency, would get glass tumbler symbol.
Similarly, if a Jana Sena candidate is contesting in an assembly segment or segments, glass tumbler symbol would not be allotted to any other person who is in the fray in the Lok Sabha constituencies of which the assembly segments in question are a part.
According to JSP state legal cell chairman Sambasiva Pratap Evana, after the EC submitted the order as it had promised on Tuesday, the Andhra Pradesh High Court closed the Jana Sena’s petition.
“This is only a partial relief to the alliance. The glass tumbler symbol could be allotted to independent candidates who will be in the fray where the JSP is not contesting, harming the interests of the remaining two parties who are part of the alliance,” he said.
“We may seek further relief like freezing the allotment of Glass Tumbler symbol in all other constituencies, both Lok Sabha and Assembly where the Jana Sena candidates are not in the fray,” Sambasiva Pratap said.
The EC’s decision would help the Jana Sena which is contesting 21 assembly and two Lok Sabha seats (Machilipatnam and Kakinada).
The presence of independents with glass tumbler in other constituencies could hurt the prospects of the TDP and the BJP, the other two partners in the alliance.
“This decision to allow allotment of glass tumbler symbol to independents in constituencies where the TDP or the BJP are not contesting, may harm the prospects of the TDP, our alliance partner. In a constituency, if an independent candidate with glass tumbler gets, say even 1000 votes, it might lead to our political rival gain advantage if the contest is very keen,” Jana Sena Political secretary P Hari Prasad told South First.
The Jana Sena too, as it would also hurt its interests in Lok Sabha constituencies, moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday, 30 April, seeking a direction to the EC to freeze the symbol in the constituencies where it is not contesting.
When the court took up the petition, the EC gave an undertaking that it would submit its order on the issue within 24 hours. Accordingly the EC submitted its order to the court which closed the petition.
The EC had allotted the glass tumbler symbol to independents and lesser-known political parties in about 50 constituencies, both Assembly and Lok Sabha. The TDP candidates are worried over the votes that should go to them, might be polled in favour of independents in constituencies.
For instance, TDP candidate for Vizianagaram Assembly seat Aditi Jayalaxmi Gajapathi Raju Pusapati is worried that Jana Sena votes might go to the independent, who has glass tumbler symbol, hurting her prospects.
Interestingly, lesser-known parties like Telugu Janata Party have been allotted glass tumbler symbol in some constituencies, much to the chagrin of the TDP and the BJP candidates.
(Edited by Shauqueen Mizaj)
