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What is common to the Samajwadi Party and the Panthers Party, or to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Shiv Sena? It is their election symbols.
The four, recognised State parties from Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand and Maharashtra respectively, have been allowed by the Election Commission to use their ‘reserved symbols’ in the Bihar polls. While SP and Panthers Party have the bicycle as their election symbol in UP and J&K respectively, the JMM and Shiv Sena have the bow and arrow as their election symbol in Jharkhand and Maharashtra respectively.
The permission from the EC comes with a rider that candidates of parties with the same symbol should not be pitted against each other in a particular constituency so that the voters are not confused. However, if they do fight against each other, their candidates will not be able to use their reserved symbol. They shall be alloted the ‘free symbol’ in those constituencies.
As of now, six parties – BJP, BSP, Congress, CPI, CPI (M) and NCP – are recognised as National Parties. Besides, there are 50 Recognised State Parties.
While National Parties are free to use their ‘reserved symbol’ across India, the Recognised State Parties can use their symbols in their States. To use the symbol outside their State, they have to seek the EC’s permission. Registered but unrecognised political parties do not have the privilege of contesting elections on a symbol of their own. They have to choose from a list of ‘free symbols’ issued by the poll panel.
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