Jammu & Kashmir High Court directs Election Commission to accept nomination papers of Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to accept nomination paper of 'Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal' and to allot a common symbol to the political party to enable its participation in the upcoming Assembly elections of 4 states - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

The Court was hearing the said political party IkkJut Jammu's (now Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal) writ petition in this regard.

The party submitted that it is a registered political party, and pursuant to the normal procedure in this regard changed its name from IkkJut Jammu to Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal and communicated the same to the ECI.

Thereafter, it fulfilled all requisite formalities as per the Representation of the People's Act, including publication of a public notice in this regard as directed by the Election Commission and furnishing a copy of the same to the ECI.

It is stated that the party also approached the ECI to fasten its process of allotment Common Symbol since it intends to contest the Assembly elections of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana and its candidates would require the Election Symbol.

However, the party stated that no action had been initiated by ECI on the application till date. It contended that "despite having complied with all the requisite formalities... and regularly filing its ITR, the Respondent (ECI) has not taken any call with respect to change of its name as well as allotment of common symbol."

Therefore, it prayed for interim relief from the Court.

Granting the same, the single-judge bench of Justice Rajesh Sekhri directed the ECI to accept the party's nomination paper and Form B, in the name of "Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal" and to allot a common symbol enabling the party to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in 4 states.

The Court said this order would be subject to any objections and final outcomes.

It is important to note that the party describes itself on its official handle on 'X' (formerly Twitter) that it is the "only political party that follows Sanatan values", and has alleged that the ECI is controlled by the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (the BJP).