Speaking to reporters at the Election Building on Tuesday (October 14), Akhtar Ahmed stated, “The NCP must submit an alternative symbol by October 19. If they fail to comply, the Election Commission will exercise its own authority to decide. The Commission believes there is no necessity to include the lotus as a new symbol.”
The EC secretary further added that the government will decide whether or not to hold a referendum, and the Election Commission will act accordingly once the decision is made.
Earlier, the Election Commission sent a formal letter to the NCP, instructing the party to choose one symbol from the 50 approved election symbols listed in the electoral rules.
However, the NCP has remained firm in its stance, insisting that it will not register any symbol other than the lotus.
The EC’s deadline of October 19 marks the final opportunity for the NCP to comply before the commission intervenes and assigns a symbol on its own discretion.
