Parties have to contest polls using own symbols, even if part of alliance

The High Court yesterday upheld the amended provision of the Representation of People Order (RPO) that requires political parties to contest national elections using their own symbols, even when they are part of an electoral alliance.

The court discharged the rule it had issued on December 1, asking the government and the Election Commission to explain within 10 days why the provision should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.

The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Fatema Anwar delivered the verdict after hearing arguments on the rule.

Petitioner's lawyer Ahsanul Karim told The Daily Star that his client plans to appeal the HC judgment before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Advocate SM Azmal Hossain Bachchhu, convener of the National Lawyers Alliance (NLA), supported by the National Citizen Party, expressed satisfaction at the HC verdict, saying that candidates must now contest the national election using their own parties' symbols, following the judgment.

On November 27, Mominul Islam, secretary general of the National Democratic Movement, filed the petition seeking a directive to overturn the amended provision, arguing that it restricts political freedoms and disrupts long-established electoral practices, particularly those involving alliances.

The government amended the RPO through an ordinance on November 3, making it mandatory for all registered political parties to contest elections using their own symbols regardless of alliance arrangements.

Previously, alliance members were allowed to contest using the election symbol of any partner party within the coalition, a provision that facilitated joint electoral strategies, especially for smaller parties with limited organisational strength.

Following the petition, the HC on December 1 issued the rule.