Dhinakaran's claim over election symbol rejected

The Supreme Court has refused to acknowledge claims made by TTV Dhinakaran-led outfit over using "pressure cooker" as common election symbol. It, however, directed the Election Commission to consider granting common free election symbol to the candidates of his party for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and assembly by-elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi made it clear that its order asking the EC to consider granting common election symbol would not amount to granting recognition to his outfit as a political group and its candidates would be treated as Independents for all practical purposes. The bench also said that it was the duty and the rights of the EC only to consider granting registration to Dhinakaran's outift as a political party and it will be done in due course by the poll panel. It added that its directions to poll panel to consider granting common free symbol to the list of 59 candidates furnished before it by the outfit was passed to ensure level-playing field and free and fair elections.