SC directs EC to allot common symbols to three parties

New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI) India's Supreme Court Friday
directed the Election Commission to allot common symbols to
the three political parties -- Prajarajyam, Lok Satta and DMDK
-- for the ensuing general elections.

A Bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P
Sathasivam, however, clarified that the directions are only
"interim" for the present elections and the parties cannot
claim any equity until the dispute was settled.

The apex court also stayed an Andhra Pradesh High Court
order directing the EC to allot common symbols to all
registered political parties in the state.

While the Prajarajyma is floated by Telugu superstar
Chiranjeevi, the Lok Satta has been set up by a former IAS
officer Jai Prakash Narayan and the two parties are contesting
the elections for all the 42 Lok Sabha and 294 assembly seats
from Andhra Pradesh.

The DMDK headed by Tamil actor Vijaykant is contesting
all the seats in the state on its own. PTI