How are symbols allotted to political parties?

As per the guidelines, to get a symbol allotted:

1. A party/candidate has to provide a list of three symbols from the EC’s free symbols list at the time of filing nomination papers. 
2. Among them, one symbol is allotted to the party/candidate on a first-come-first-serve basis. 
3. When a recognised political party splits, the Election Commission takes the decision on assigning the symbol. 

Powers of Election Commission:

The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 empowers the EC to recognise political parties and allot symbols. 

• Under Paragraph 15 of the Order, it can decide disputes among rival groups or sections of a recognised political party staking claim to its name and symbol. 
• The EC is also the only authority to decide issues on a dispute or a merger. The Supreme Court upheld its validity in Sadiq Ali and another vs. ECI in 1971. 

Types of symbols:

As per the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) (Amendment) Order, 2017, party symbols are either: 

1. Reserved: Eight national parties and 64 state parties across the country have “reserved” symbols. 
2. Free: The Election Commission also has a pool of nearly 200 “free” symbols that are allotted to the thousands of unrecognised regional parties that pop up before elections. 

Registration of political parties:

Registration of Political parties is governed by the provisions of Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

• A party seeking registration under the Section 29A of RP Act 1951 with the Election Commission has to submit an application to the Commission within a period of 30 days, following the date of its formation as per guidelines prescribed by the Election Commission of India in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 324 of the Commission of India and Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
• As per existing guidelines, the applicant party is, inter-alia, asked to publish proposed Name of party in two national daily newspapers and two local daily newspapers, on two days for submitting objections.

Political Parties in India

India has a multi-party system, where political parties are classified as national, state or regional level parties.

• The status of party is accorded by the Election Commission of India, and the same is reviewed occasionally.
•  All parties are registered with the Election Commission.
• A special and unique election symbol is given to every registered party by the Election Commission.

Criterion for Recognition

The Election Commission has laid down certain criteria for a party to be recognised as national or state level parties.

National Party
A party has to live up to at least one of the following qualifications to be recognised as a national party:

• It has to win a minimum of two per cent of the seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three different states.
• In General Elections, the party must manage to win six per cent of the votes and win at least four Lok Sabha seats as well.
• The party is recognised as a ‘state level party’ in four or more states.

State Party
A party has to live up to at least one of the following qualifications to be acknowledged as a state party.

• The party has to win at least three seats or three per cent of the seats in the state legislative Assembly.
• It has to win minimum one seat in the Lok Sabha for every 25 seats or any fraction allotted to that concerned state.
• In a particular election, the party has to bag at least six per cent of the total votes, and also win one Lok Sabha and two Assembly seats.
• The status of a state party can still be bestowed upon an entity even if it fails to win any seats in the Lok Sabha or the Assembly, if it manages to win at least eight per cent of the total votes cast in the entire state.

Benefits of being a recognized party:

• If a party is recognised as a `National Party’ it is entitled for exclusive allotment of its reserved symbol to the candidates set up by it throughout India.
• If a party is recognised as a State Party, it is entitled for exclusive allotment of its reserved symbol to the candidates set up by it in the State in which it is so recognized.
• Recognised `State’ and `National’ parties need only one proposer for filing the nomination.
• They are entitled for two sets of electoral rolls free of cost at the time of revision of rolls and their candidates get one copy of electoral roll free of cost during General Elections.
• They also get broadcast/telecast facilities over Akashvani/Doordarshan during general elections.
• The travel expenses of star campaigners are not to be accounted for in the election expense accounts of candidates of their party.