Praja Rajyam seeks 'rail engine' as poll symbol

Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party on Friday sought 'rail engine' as its poll symbol following the Supreme Court's direction to the Election Commission to allot a common symbol to the party.

"We gave an application to Chief Electoral Officer seeking rail engine as our election symbol," Chiranjeevi's brother-in-law and party general secretary Allu Aravind told media persons in Hyderabad.

He added that CEO I V Subbarao was yet to receive details of the Supreme Court order and would give a clarification on the matter after receiving it.

He expressed confidence that his party would be able to popularise its election symbol before polling. Asked about protests by aspirants who did not get party tickets, Aravind asserted that the party would not hesitate to suspend those violating discipline.

Supreme Court on Friday directed the Election Commission to allot common symbols to three political parties -- Praja Rajyam Party, Lok Satta and the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam -- for the ensuing general elections.

Bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam, however, clarified that the directions were only "interim" for the present elections and parties cannot claim any equity until the dispute was settled.

The apex court also stayed an Andhra Pradesh high court order directing the EC to allot common symbols to all registered political parties in the state.