New Rules for Allocation of Symbols

Context: The Election Commission of India has brought in new rules for allocation of symbols to Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs). 

New rules:

• To qualify for the 'concession of common symbol allotment,' these parties must submit audited accounts for the past three financial years, expenditure statements from the last two elections, and the signature of the authorized office-bearer.
• Upon providing the necessary details, RUPPs will be eligible for the allocation of symbols in accordance with the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order of 1968.
• The implementation of these new rules is set to commence from January 11, 2024.

About the Election Commission of India:

• The Election Commission of India, an independent constitutional authority established under Article 324, is responsible for overseeing electoral processes at the Union and State levels in India.
• Comprising the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners, their tenure is fixed at six years or until the age of 65, with provisions for resignation or removal.

Registered Unrecognised Political Parties :

• Registered Unrecognised Political Parties refer to newly-registered entities or those that have not garnered a sufficient percentage of votes in Assembly or general elections to attain State party status.
• This category also includes parties that have never participated in elections post-registration. Governed by the Representation of the People Act (RPA) of 1951, these parties, constituting only 30% in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, do not enjoy all the benefits accorded to recognized parties.

Requirements for Symbol Allocation:

Allocation of common symbols to RUPPs is contingent on their commitment to fielding "at least 5% of total candidates with regard to said Legislative Assembly election of a State."