Three parties allocated free symbols for local body elections in India

The State Election Commission has allocated free electoral symbols to three parties contesting municipal parishad and zilla parishad elections, according to its latest Symbol Order. The JSSP has been assigned the 'bat' symbol, the BCYP the 'battery torch', and the RPC-S the 'gas cylinder' for these local body elections.

The commission explicitly stated in its order that this symbol allotment constitutes a one-time facility extended to the three parties. The allocation does not confer any automatic entitlement to the same symbols in subsequent ordinary or casual elections, the SEC clarified.

The move is part of the regular electoral process for local governance bodies, which involve multiple rounds of balloting across constituencies. The symbol allocation ensures that smaller or newly-formed parties can participate in elections with distinct identification marks, helping voters identify their preferred candidates during polling.

The clarification regarding the non-permanent nature of these allocations underscores the commission's position on maintaining standardized electoral procedures. Parties seeking symbol recognition in future electoral cycles will need to apply through the prescribed channels and meet the relevant eligibility criteria established by the election authority.