Common symbol: Chiru may have to 'quit'

By J.R.PRASAD

Hyderabad, March 19: The crisis caused by the Praja Rajyam not getting a symbol is so intense that its founder president Chiranjeevi will have to resign and join the party whose symbol it wants to use for all its candidates.

The Praja Rajyam is a “registered party,” but is not yet “recognised” for which it has to win a certain percentage of votes. This, the Praja Rajyam, formed last year, has not done. It is therefore not eligible for a common symbol, all its candidates run the risk of getting different symbols which is a nightmare scenario for any party.

Authorities familiar with the election process suggest that the safe option for PR at the eleventh hour — nominations for the first phase of polls in the state open on March 23 — is to join the party having a common symbol in any other state, set up its state unit and field PR candidates.

In such an event, it will be essential for Chiranjeevi to take over as state party president, if not the entire party, and issue B forms for his candidates to have control over the candidates in the post poll scenario.

“Chiranjeevi cannot issue B-form of any other party while continuing as president of PR, which is only a registered party and not recognised,” EC sources said.

As a last effort, the party on Thursday approached the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the EC to allot a common symbol for the party. Sources said the PR contended that the matter would come in the purview of the apex court as the decision on the symbol should be taken by the EC.

Inquiries revealed that majority opinion was mobilising in favour of a safe and immediate solution to overcome the crisis irrespective of the criticism the party would be subjected to.

“All that matters finally is getting a common symbol without which it will be a disaster,” a party leader said. A section of think tank was believed to have suggested that all the PR candidates should file nominations as independent candidates and claim first preference for a symbol in all the constituencies. “As per rules the candidates of a registered party, who file nominations as independents, will have preference over independents,” a close confidant of Chiranjeevi said.

“There is high risk involved in the process because any other registered party can claim the same symbol. In such an event, the allotment will be decided by the returning officers through draw of lots,” EC sources said.

Party sources said Goa’s Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party with the lion symbol and the United Goan Democratic Party with the two-leaves symbol were under consideration along with the Sikkim Democratic Front of the Sikkim Chief Minister, Mr Pawan Chamling, with umbrella sign.