Shillong, June 19: The Election Commission today decided to let the National Peoples Party (NPP) continue to have the book as a poll symbol, though it has suspended recognition of the party.

"The Election Commission has conveyed that the election symbol of the NPP will not be changed," said Meghalaya's chief electoral officer P. Naik.

On June 17, Naik had written to the commission inquiring whether the NPP, contesting the Chokpot Assembly bypoll in Meghalaya, could still use book as the election symbol. The NPP's Meghalaya unit is fielding former legislator Philippole D. Marak from Chokpot constituency for the bypoll slated for June 27.

Led by veteran parliamentarian Purno Agitok Sangma, the NPP is a recognised party in Meghalaya and has units across the country. The commission has suspended recognition of the NPP after some of its candidates, who contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls allegedly failed to submit the expenditure statements to the Election Commission within the stipulated time.

Four Lok Sabha candidates of the NPP from Rajasthan had not filed the expenditure details, which led to the suspension of recognition of the party by the poll panel.