Symbol and Spice

“One of the candidates in our village is a wrestler and the symbol he’s got is that of a baby’s frock. He finds it really difficult to promote something so contradictory to his image and personality,” says Sachin Kamthe,who is contesting on a banana symbol. “With symbols such as the banana,carrot, comb and so on,creating slogans and banners has become a difficult task. And when we walk through the road shouting slogans,people laugh and don’t take us seriously,” he adds.

Besides,candidates complain that a number of symbols don’t connect with the villagers.

“Many villagers are not familiar with symbols such as cake,battery,bread and piano. That means candidates contesting with such symbols are heading for sure-shot defeat,” says Rajendra Chorge,who is contesting from Rahatawde village in Shivapur taluka on a cupboard symbol. While whistle,cupboard,frock,bat,cake,bread,oil pump and iron are part of the 58 logos introduced this year,the last elections also included the railway engine which was picked up by MNS as their party logo.

The elections campaigns and rallies have turned out to be amusing spectacles for the villagers.

Ashok Bajare of Peth says,“Many of the symbols bear a lot of resemblance to each other and can cause confusion. For instance,someone has bat for a symbol and another has a batsman symbol. Also,the table symbol looks like that of a piano. To top it,candidates have now resorted to using the symbols to taunt their opponents. One of the leaders has been appealing to the masses to use a pair of scissors to cut his opponent to size as the opponent’s symbol is a pair of scissors. Whatever the logic behind the symbols,elections were never so hilarious.”

A number of candidates did appeal to the Election Commission,asking for a change in symbols,but to no avail.

“Till last year,we could choose from three elections symbols. The rules have changed this year and we have to take what is given. This has put us in an awkward position,” said Kamthe.

But the Election Commission is firm on its stand. Seema Holkar,tehsildar general,says,“This is the process and the symbols are distributed as per order. There is nothing we can do about it.”