Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi met Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy in New Delhi on Monday to seek a common symbol for his party Praja Rajyam. Chiranjeevi, who was accompanied by former Union minister P Shiv Shankar, submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission, requesting that the rules for issuing a common symbol be amended.
As per the EC's rules, a regional political party needs to secure six per cent of the votes and two elected representatives in the state legislature before being granted a common symbol.
Chiranjeevi told the Commission his party had lakhs of supporters and if the EC didn't allot a common symbol, it would be difficult for his party to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Gopalaswamy informed the Telugu superstar that his party cannot be granted a common symbol under the existing rules.
The EC has already turned down a similar request by Tamil actor Vijaykanth's party Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam. The party has now filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the EC's rules.