Delhi HC Issues Notice to ECI on Akhil Bharatiya Jan Sangh’s Plea Seeking Symbol Allotment for Bihar Polls

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, issued notice on a plea filed by the Akhil Bharatiya Jan Sangh seeking allotment of a common election symbol to contest the upcoming Bihar Legislative Assembly Elections.

Established in 1951, the Akhil Bharatiya Jan Sangh is a political party that traces its origins to the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, founded by Late Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee.

Filed by Advocate Pranay Ranjan, the plea states the Jan Sangh had approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking allotment of a common election symbol to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections under the banner of ABJS. Since no response was received, the petitioner sent a reminder on 4 July 2025. However, with no reply from the poll body, the party was compelled to move the Delhi High Court.

Hearing the matter today, Justice Mini Pushkarna issued notice to the Election Commission of India on the party’s plea. The notice was accepted by the counsel appearing for the ECI. The court also granted time to the poll body to file its reply.

“The Petitioner has been contesting elections throughout its existence and has from time to time applied for an election symbol from the Respondent as per the extant laws, as late as the recently concluded elections in the State of Andhra Pradesh," the plea said.

It was submitted that the party contested the 2024 Andhra Pradesh elections under the ‘sitar’ symbol.“This is reflected in the list of political parties participating in the said elections, as well as in the results that were declared. The elections were contested under the banner of Petitioner/ABJS,” the plea said.

Contending that the party has a constitutional and statutory right to contest elections, the plea said, "..the Petitioner has a Constitutional guarantee and a statutory right to contest elections subject to statutory safeguards. There has been no response by the Election Commission of India to either letter dated 02.06.2025 and 04.07.2025, and the consequent non-allotment of election symbol will take away its opportunity to contest elections. The Petitioner will be deprived of its Constitutional guarantee and therefore, is constrained to approach this Hon’ble Court."

The party has therefore urged the court to direct the Election Commission of India to consider its letters dated 2 June and 4 July 2025, and to allot a common election symbol in a time-bound manner.

 The matter will next be heard on August 19.

Case Title: Akhil Bharatiya Jan Sangh v. Election Commission of India

Date of Order: August 5, 2025

Bench: Justice Mini Pushkarna