The Telugu Desam Party might face troubles in protecting its popular “cycle” symbol if it wants to get registered as a national party.

According to party sources, the TDP  might have to forego the cycle symbol the moment it becomes the national party, because it is already allocated to Samajwadi Party which is also a national party.

So far, the TDP did not have a problem, because it is just a regional party confined to Andhra Pradesh alone, where the SP has no presence. But now that the TDP wants to grow into national party, it has to compete with the SP.

To avoid this controversy, the TDP would contest elections only in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha and Puducherry, besides Telangana and AP.

As per the norms laid down by the Election Commission to get the recognition as national party, the TDP should get the minimum percentage of votes in these States.

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Finance Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, however, said the TDP did not foresee any problems in retaining the name and the symbol of the TDP for the party to contest the Assembly polls in other States. He said that the TDP's symbol and the name were well protected.