EXCERPTS OF THE ORDER DATED 3 JANUARY, 1975 PASSED BY THE ELECTION COMMISSION ON THE FORMATION OF THE BHARATIYA LOK DAL

Summary

This institutional order, issued by the Election Commission of India on 3 January 1975, addresses two closely related matters under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968: a dispute among rival groups within the Bharatiya Kranti Dal (B.K.D.) and the proposed amalgamation of the Swatantra Party, B.K.D., Utkal Congress, and other political parties to form the Bharatiya Lok Dal. The Commission records that a hearing took place on 1 January 1975 and identifies representatives appearing for the parties and rival B.K.D. groups.

The excerpts describe the documentary basis for the proposed merger, including a meeting held in New Delhi on 14 April 1974 under Charan Singh’s chairmanship, subsequent resolutions approving the merger, and lists of elected legislators said to support it. The Commission rejects a claim by Girish K. Munshi concerning the Swatantra Party’s Maharashtra unit, holds that the newly formed Bharatiya Lok Dal should be recognised as a National Party, and orders that the former parties’ symbols be frozen. Pending a separate order reserving a symbol for the new party, it reserves the symbols “Star” for the Swatantra Party, “Haldhar” for the Bharatiya Kranti Dal in Uttar Pradesh, and “Water wheel and plough (Halchak)” for the Utkal Congress in Orissa, while directing that similarly named organisations not be registered.

Key points

• The order combines a dispute among three rival B.K.D. groups with the question of amalgamation into the Bharatiya Lok Dal.
• The Commission applies paragraphs 15 and 16 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
• A hearing was held on 1 January 1975 with representatives of the Swatantra Party, Utkal Congress, Bharatiya Lok Dal, and B.K.D. groups.
• The record cites an April 1974 meeting chaired by Charan Singh and later party resolutions approving the merger.
• The Commission scrutinised lists of elected legislators supporting the proposed Bharatiya Lok Dal.
• The Bharatiya Lok Dal is recognised as a National Party for the purposes of the Symbols Order.
• The symbols of the former parties are frozen, and registration under the same or similar names is prohibited.
• A separate order is reserved for assigning a symbol to the Bharatiya Lok Dal.