A recent development in the Madras High Court has brought the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) iconicLotus symbol to the BJP symbol to the BJP.
The crux of Ramesh’s argument revolves around the significance of the Lotus as India’s national flower. He posits that the Lotus, which holds a symbolic representation for the entire nation, should not be confined to a single political entity. By doing so, it not only undermines the universal representation of the flower but also, in Ramesh’s words, becomes a
“disgrace to the national integrity.”
Delving deeper into the principles of democratic elections, Ramesh emphasized the foundational importance of equality. He argued that the essence of a genuinely free and fair electoral process is ensuring that no political party is either favored or discriminated against. Drawing a constitutional perspective, he highlighted that any form of discrimination between parties would be in direct violation of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to equality.
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Building on this premise, Ramesh’s plea further elaborated that to uphold the principles of equality and national integrity, it is imperative to revoke the Lotus symbol’s current association with the BJP. He firmly believes that such a significant symbol should remain neutral and not be tethered to any political group, irrespective of its stature as recognized, registered, or independent.
In a bid to expedite the judicial process, Ramesh approached the vacation bench of the Madras High Court, which included Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy and Justice V Lakshminarayanan. He requested an urgent hearing, emphasizing the pressing nature of the issue. However, the court, after due consideration, decided not to fast-track the case and declined Ramesh’s request for an immediate hearing.
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