NCP Vows to Fight for Shapla Symbol after EC Rejection

Tensions are rising between the National Citizen Party (NCP) and the Election Commission (EC) over the party’s demand for the water lily (Shapla) symbol in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election.

Sarjis Alam, chief organiser of NCP’s northern region, strongly protested the EC’s decision not to allocate the symbol. In a public statement, he argued that the secretary’s remarks had, in fact, proven there was no legal obstacle to granting it.

“On the very day we applied for registration, we clearly requested Shapla as our symbol. Whose responsibility was it to include it in the list? Have they been sitting idle all this time, or are they acting under the instructions of another institution, party, or agency instead of working as an independent body?” Sarjis questioned.

He insisted that Shapla was the only acceptable electoral emblem for NCP. “Since there is no legal barrier, NCP’s symbol must be Shapla. There is no other option. Otherwise, we too shall see how the election is held and who dreams of coming to power,” he warned, signalling possible political confrontation if the demand is ignored.

Earlier in the day, EC Senior Secretary Akhter Ahmed reaffirmed the commission’s stance, saying Shapla cannot be allocated as it is not included in the list of 115 reserved symbols. “The rule is clear: a party must choose from the reserved list. If Shapla is not there, then there is no opportunity to give it,” he said.

He, however, suggested that the NCP could submit an alternative proposal, stressing that a final decision would require consensus and adherence to electoral guidelines.

The row over the Shapla symbol highlights the growing tension between the newly emerged NCP and the Election Commission ahead of the polls. For NCP leaders, the water lily is more than just a symbol—it is a marker of identity and a rallying point for supporters.

Observers note that the dispute could deepen mistrust between the party and the commission at a time when credibility and neutrality are crucial for the electoral process.