Frying pan, coconut are also election symbols

Simple pictoral designs help common people identify parties

A frying pan, a kettle, an air conditioner, a tooth brush, a pencil, a coconut, a cricket bat and a telephone instrument with a rotatory dial may not have too much in common, but these articles and many other kitchen wares, household articles, stationery items and musical instruments will be among the symbols visible on ballot units in the December 4 Delhi assembly elections.

In Greater Kailash constituency, for instance, home appliances such as an air conditioner, ceiling fan and refrigerator are among the options available.

Kitchen wares such as cup and saucer, frying pan, gas cylinder, gas stove, glass tumbler, kettle, pressure cooker and a place stand are also among the symbols that candidates have selected to make them appear before their names.

“In each constituency, on an average there are five dozen free election symbols for candidates to choose from. These are in addition to a few symbols already reserved for some parties by the Election Commission,” Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev says.

An Election Department official says different constituencies have different sets of free symbols available for candidates. “There is a slightly different set of options made available to candidates in separate constituencies,” the official says.

In Greater Kailash constituency, 18 of the 85 election symbols were reserved by the Election Commission.

“A total of 67 elections symbols were in the free list and candidates were asked to give their three top options,” another official says.

The options available to candidates include musical instruments such as trumpet, harmonium and flute. A whistle also figured among the election symbols list. Sports goods are also available in large number among the symbols, such as cricket bat, batsman, carom board, hockey and ball and shuttle.

An election official says the need for symbols in ballot units was felt to help less educated voters select their candidates among the contestants. “This is the reason why the symbols are mostly picked from household articles and daily use items,” he says.

This explains the presence of eatable items as carrot, cauliflower, coconut, fruits kept in a basket, bread, cake and grapes in the list of election symbols.

Tools, gadgets and stationery items used by people daily are also among the symbols. Cutting pliers, diesel pump, iron and saw will compete with a sharpener, school bag, pen stand, envelop and slate.

Dolli, a palanquin, also figures among the symbols. Among the dresses and accessories that would seen as symbols are a frock, neck tie, coat and a belt.

Other symbols that candidates in the constituency were asked to select from were driving helmet, funnel, letter box, ladies purse, ring, battery torch, window, razor, tent, candle and cupboard.

Some of the reserved symbols in Greater Kailash constituency include an autorickshaw, bread, walking stick, stethoscope, sewing machine, a pair of scissors, pot, hockey and ball, hat, electric pole, ceiling fan, coat, brush, briefcase, bucket and calculator.

Recognised parties will continue to use their symbols used across the country. For example, Congress  will have the hand symbol, BJP will use lotus, Bahujan Samaj Party elephant and Samajwadi Party cycle.