M.L.RAVI Vs. CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who claims to be the President of Deisya Makkal Sakthi Katchi and a practising advocate, has filed this petition, styled as public interest litigation, seeking issuance of a mandamus directing the first respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dtd. 12/3/2026 and examine the legality of issuing Form A and Form B to candidates who are members of another political party and, consequently, frame appropriate guidelines and regulatory measures to prevent misuse of reserved election symbols.

(2.) The grievance of the petitioner is that candidates who belong to other political parties are issued Form A and Form B by recognized political parties as part of electoral alliances and such candidates contest elections using the reserved symbol of another political party, while continuing to remain members of their original political party. It is asserted that such practice results in a serious misrepresentation and misleads the voters regarding the true political affiliation of the candidate.

(3.) Seeking relief on similar lines, the petitioner himself has filed earlier writ petitions, being W.P.No.27375 of 2019 and 12684 of 2021. The said writ petitions were dismissed by an order dtd. 9/1/2024 holding as under: