EC to review ‘Shapla’ symbol after NCP appeal

Staff Reporter:

The Election Commission (EC) has agreed to reconsider its earlier decision rejecting the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) symbol sought by the National Citizen Party (NCP), following the party’s formal appeal.

At a meeting on Thursday, the commission said it would review the relevant laws and regulations before taking a final decision.

Earlier, on 13 October, the EC had instructed NCP to choose an alternative symbol from the approved list and inform the commission by 19 October, warning that if the party failed to comply, a symbol would be allocated at the EC’s discretion.

Despite this directive, the NCP submitted a fresh application on the final day, reiterating its demand for the ‘Shapla’ symbol, and asked the EC to clarify the criteria used to include or exclude electoral symbols.

Speaking to media, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed the matter had been referred back to the commission.

“We clearly informed NCP about the deadline and our procedures.

Now that they’ve disputed it, the commission will decide whether to uphold its previous decision or revise it,” he said.

In its latest letter, NCP also requested a written explanation for why the symbols ‘Shapla,’ ‘White Shapla,’ and ‘Red Shapla’ were excluded from the approved list.

According to EC records, the current list of 50 electoral symbols available to newly registered parties includes options such as eggplant, balloon, bed, butterfly, cup-saucer, ship, football, flute, fan, deer, duck, and helicopter, among others.