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October     Last updated: October 14: 7:00 p.m.

CPI(M) derecognised as national party

From Our Correspondent

IN a significant decision, the Election Commission of India, on September 30, derecognised some of the political parties as "national parites", including the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the two factions of Janata Dal. The decision of the EC came after Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill and Election Commissioners T.S. Krishna Murthy and J.M. Lyndoh heard the arguments of these parties. The EC orders are based on the poll performance of these parties during the 1999 general election. Organiser in its issue dated, 31-10-1999, had published under the title "JD(S) and CPI may lose national status" that "some national parties like CPI and the Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) could lose their national status following their miserable performance in the Lok Sabha elections '99 if poll statistics released by the Election Commission on October 11 are any indication." In its decision, besides derecognising the CPI(M) as the national party, the Commission has frozen the name and symbol of the Janata Dal, recognising its two factions led by Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda as State parties.

In the case of Subramanyam Swamy-led Janata Party, which officially existed only in Arunachal Pradesh, the organisation has been derecognised even as a State party and is permitted by the Commission to function as a registered unrecognised party. After hearing the arguments of CPM General Secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet and senior party leader Ramchandran Pillai, the Commission said in its order that the Marxist Party was no longer entitled to recognition as a national party under Election Symbols (Reservations and Allotment) Order 1968. In its order, the Commission said : "It shall hereafter be recognised as a State Party in Kerala, Tripura and West Bengal and the symbol "hammer, sickle and star" shall be reserved for its exclusive use in those States." The JD(U) has been granted State level status in Karnataka and Bihar and the JD(S) has got regional party status in Karnataka. On the symbol dispute between JD(S) and JD(U), the EC said that neither of the two groups could be recognised as representing the whole Janata Dal. As such the original name and 'Chakra' (wheel) symbol would stand frozen. The order claimed "The Commission has been consistently applying the symbols order judiciously, and giving equal treatment to all parties equally placed.

The Commission cannot act differently in this case." On CPI(M)'s plea that it being a political party with long-standing record the party should not be treated in such a manner, the Order said : "Commission sees some force in the submission of the party—that a political party recognised as a national party should have a reasonable presence in Parliament." The Order further stated : "The Commission does realise that the CPI(M) is the third largest party, in terms of its strength in both the houses of Parliament, and also that it is heading three state governments and has its representation in the legislative assemblies of 12 States." Saying that the EC would consider the argument of CPI(M) "at an appropriate time", the Commission further states, however, as of now, the Commission has to apply the symbols order as it stood at the time of the general elections held in 1999 and 2000 on the basis of which the poll performances of the party was reviewed.