EC will not allow the partners to contest under common symbol in alliance

In a significant development, Telangana Jana Samiti candidates are likely to contest with the Congress’ election symbol of hand, instead of the match box, their own symbol.

There is a precedence to this. In the 1983 Assembly elections in AP, the Sanjay Vichar Manch contested five seats under the Telugu Desam symbol. After the elections, they were considered a separate group in the Assembly, said former MLA Gone Prakash Rao, who won as a Manch candidate. They elected Gangaiah as Manch leader in the Assembly.

According to officials, any political party in a pre-poll alliance wants to contest with another political party’s symbol, the Election Commission will allot a common symbol to them. In the B-Form, the candidates have to mention which party they belong to.