Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Centre, Election Commission and several opposition political parties on a PIL seeking direction to opposition political parties to prohibit the use of the acronym I.N.D.I.A, reported ANI. Notably, 26 opposition parties, after their meeting in Patna and Bengaluru, had announced using 'INDIA' (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) as the name of the grand coalition. The BJP-led NDA had attacked the opposition for using the name of the country to represent their bloc.


A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Amit Mahajan issued notice and sought a response from the Central Government through the Ministries of Home Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, Election Commission of India and 26 political parties, reported Live Law. 


"This has to be heard. It requires hearing," the bench was quoted as saying by Live Law. Petitioner Girish Bharadwaj’s counsel made submissions after which the court listed the matter for hearing on October 21. 


In his plea, as per Live Law, Bharadwaj said he is aggrieved by “non-observance” and no action taken on the representation given by him to the Election Commission of India on July 19 against the 26 political parties who formed the new coalition.  


"That till date Election Commission of India did not take any action to prevent the respondent political parties to use the acronym I.N.D.I.A for their political alliance, hence the petitioner left with no other option, except to file this Writ Petition," the plea states, as per Live Law. 


Notably, the plea seeks a direction to the opposition parties to not use the acronym I.N.D.I.A. The plea also sought necessary action into the matter by the Election Commission of India and the Centre  


According to the report by Live Law, the plea states that the parties have kept the name of the alliance as I.N.D.I.A. only to take undue advantage in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.  


"…these all practice to use acronym I.N.D.I.A. (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) / INDIA of respondent political parties are only to attract and gain sympathy and votes of the innocent citizen and to use as a tool for political benefit and also to give a nudge or a spark which may lead to political hatred which eventually will lead to political violence," the plea further adds, as per Live Law. 


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