EC freezes ASDC's name, symbol

GUWAHATI, March 29: The Election Commission of India (EC) has frozen the name Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and the symbol allotted to it namely 'Boy and Girl' in view of the unresolved dispute between the two splinter groups of the ASDC having base at Karbi Anglong and NC Hills districts of the State. The Election Commission after hearing both the ASDC groups - one led by Holiram Terang as the president and another led by Chandrakanta Terang as the president - decided to treat both the groups at par in view of the ensuing Assembly polls in the State, pending final determination of the dispute. The EC, therefore, has barred both the groups from using the name or the symbol of the Autonomous State Demand Committee. At the same time the commission in order to ensure that the two groups are not placed at a disadvantage vis-a-vis other political parties in their election campaign, has, as a stop-gap arrangement and interim measure, decided to grant provisional and ad-hoc recognition to both the rival groups as State parties in Assam for the purposes of the symbol order. The ad-hoc recognition being granted shall be applicable only for the purposes of the ensuing Assembly elections, and not for any other elections to be held thereafter. The question of both the groups' recognition and allotment of symbol would depend on the final determination of the dispute. The EC in its order observed that for such final decision on the dispute, the poll performance of the two groups at the ensuing general election would be relevant, as the same would truely reflect the choice of the electors who, in democracy, are the ultimate arbiter of the fate of political parties. The EC has directed both the splinter groups of the ASDC to intimate the commission latest by April 2,2001, the names by which these groups would like to be identified and recognised, subject to approval of the commission, as State parties in Assam, for the purpose of the ensuing general election to the Assam Legislative Assembly. Both the groups shall also intimate the commission by April 2, 2001, their choice of symbols to be reserved for them as ad-hoc recognised parties. For this purpose each of them should give three options of symbols, in the order of preference, any of which may be reserved for them by the commission. As per the EC order neither of the two groups nor any other group shall be permitted to use the name of ASDC. Similarly, no group or any party shall use the symbol 'Boy and Girl' in Assam until further orders of the commission. The privileges and facilities meant for ASDC as a State party, including the time to be allotted to the party on Doordarshan/All India Radio, will be shared by the two groups equally on 50:50 basis.