Symbols allotted to 114 SCB candidates

The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) returning officer P Vittal has allotted election symbols to 114 contesting candidates based on the choices filed in their nomination papers, as per the prevailing guidelines of the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday.

Post the allotment, Vittal said, “Symbols have been allotted to the candidates as per their choice, provided there were no competitors to the symbol of their choosing by the other contesting members. As there is a keen competition prevailing for a particular symbol, the majority of the symbols were taken by lottery system and symbols were allotted accordingly.”

The returning officer also briefed the candidates about the judicial usage of the symbols.

“No political symbols, party leader’s pictures and other extraneous matter should be added to the symbol allotted failing which action would be taken against offenders of the EC guidelines.”

Vittal added that canvassing and publicity must be confined to the ward from where the contestant is contesting.

“The expenditure must not be more than Rs 4 lakh for each ward member and they should show the accounts to RO up to his satisfaction. Any violations taking place in contravention of the EC guidelines, would be observed by the vigilance team and the police department, besides shadow teams deployed to oversee the candidates’ campaigns,” he said.

Request for withdrawal rejected
E Manjula Reddy, who filed her nomination, left for the USA before December 19 (nomination withdrawal day). She couldn’t withdraw her nomination in person. She however wrote to the returning officer expressing her inability to do so and requested the SCB to accept the withdrawal as it was a special case. The proposal was however rejected and Manjula has to contest for election as the candidate should be invariably present before the returning officer to submit the withdrawal of nomination, according to the EC guidelines.

By: Ch Saibaba