Kolkata, Sept. 28 -- The Calcutta High Court on Monday reserved its order on a plea by the Indian Secular Front (ISF) challenging the Election Commission's decision to allot the 'envelope' symbol, earlier used by the party, to the newly formed Democratic Trinamool Congress (DTC) for the Bengal bypolls.
Justice Krishna Rao, hearing the petition, questioned why the poll panel did not consider the ISF's application for the symbol before assigning it to the DTC. The judge also raised questions about possible "connivance" between the Election Commission and the new party.
The EC's counsel denied the suggestion, saying it was incorrect to claim that he was being guided by the DTC's lawyer. The court stressed that the commission, as a constitutional authority, must answer its questions independently and fairly.
The ISF has been allotted the 'almirah' symbol for the October 6 Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls. Senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya argued that the commission's discretion in allotting free symbols could not be unfettered and sought deferment of the Nandigram poll.
The EC opposed the plea, saying the election process had already advanced substantially, with nomination, scrutiny and withdrawal completed. It maintained that the ISF's earlier allotment of the 'envelope' ended with the May 4 Assembly election results and did not create a continuing right over the symbol.
The commission also said the 'envelope' became available after the TMC's traditional symbol was frozen amid its internal dispute and was subsequently allotted to the DTC.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.