Altaf Bukhari says he is happy to have ‘bat’ as party’s symbol in polls (file photo)

Jammu:

Altaf Bukhari-led Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party bagged the ‘bat’ symbol in the 2024 Union Territory Lok Sabha elections.

In a letter to the chief electoral officer of Jammu and Kashmir, the Election Commission (EC) said it has withdrawn the ‘bat’ symbol allotted to the Sanjowadi Party in the general elections.

It said the common symbol allotted to the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party will be applicable only for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. “After the election, the party will not allow any further use of the common symbol,” the communication reads.

Regarding the allocation of symbols, former minister Altaf Bukhari told news agency PTI that he was happy to have ‘bat’ as the party’s symbol in the polls. “The bat represents Kashmir’s famous willow (cricket bat manufacturing) industry and we are sure of getting six runs in the electoral battle in J&K,” he said.

The EC in the communication said, “…the Commission has withdrawn the ‘Hockey and Ball’ symbol allotted to ‘Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party’ for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir”. “Furthermore, the Commission has allotted the ‘bat’ symbol to the ‘Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party’, representing the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, for the remainder of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 under paragraph 10B of the Symbols Order, 1968. ,” Communications wrote in.

The commission said the election officials should be directed to allot the universal symbol “bat” to candidates established by registered unrecognized political parties, subject to the provisions of paragraph 13 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allocation) Order, 1968.

According to the Election Commission, paragraph 13 of the order relates to the establishment of candidates by political parties.

“If (Apni) political parties fail to meet the minimum number of candidates required under paragraph 10B of the Symbols Order, 1968, i.e. to have at least two parliamentary constituencies in the concerned state or union territory, their candidates shall not use the above generic symbol,” the letter said.

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