AAP's broom poll symbol stirs row

'AAP cannot use symbol beyond Delhi'

The Aam Admi Party might not be able to use a “broom”, its election symbol, to sweep away mainstream political parties once it expands its reach beyond the national capital.

The Naitik Party, a new political outfit from Uttar Pradesh, has claimed the “broom” to be its election symbol. It claimed  to have contested the 2012 Assembly polls in the state with the same symbol.

Allotment of symbol

The party, which also claims to be fighting for a corruption-free India, has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking allotment of “broom” as its election symbol for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.

“The AAP contested the Delhi Assembly polls with the ‘broom’ symbol, but we had contested the 2012 Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh with the same symbol.

Our party was registered in 2010,” said Naitik Party president Chandra Bhushan Pandey, a former judge.

“We were allotted the symbol by the EC in 2012 for the state Assembly polls. It was a one-time symbol under rule 10 (B),” Pandey told Deccan Herald here on Thursday.

Modfied rules

“Now the rules have been modified, but the EC has said those who had applied under the old rules could again apply under the modified rules. So we have applied for the same symbol,” he said.

“Of course the AAP can have the symbol as far as Delhi is concerned. We cannot claim it there but in rest of the country, ‘broom’ will be ours,” he added.

Pandey said his party plans to field candidates in the general elections all over the country. “We will contest all seats in Uttar Pradesh and put up our nominees at some seats in other states as well,” he said.

With the AAP planning to contest the 2014 polls as well, a tussle over the election symbol could not be ruled out.