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Candidates in Gujarat look to woo voters with simple household goods symbols

Not just Arvind Kejriwal’s party, the Election Commission of India also seems to have spared a thought for ‘aam aadmi’ (common man), having allotted this month several common household goods as ‘free’ poll symbols to parties and independent candidates, at least in Gujarat.

And most of the contestants have hailed the simple symbols ‘attractive enough to capture voters imagination’ and agree that they are imbued woth political meaning.

The insignificant Secular Democratic Labour Party of India will have as its symbol the humble three-wheeler auto-rickshaw, ubiquitous on the streets of Gujarat ciyties, and little-known Jaihind Samaj Party has been given a bucket as its logo.

Also, while Bahujan Mukti Party’s emblem is a coat, the Republican Party of India’s symbol in eight Gujarat constituencies will be a familiar sewing machine.

Some of the household items already allotted include fan, iron, fridge, pressure cooker, gas cylinder, brush. Other badges accepted by parties and independents elsewhere in India are coconut, bread, carrot, helmet, hat, frock, ring, harmonium, camera and stethoscope.

Sources in the Gujarat branch of the poll panel told Khaleej Times that a few still-unallotted symbols were scissors, bed, chessboard, school bag, pen-stand and ice-cream.

mahesh@khaleejtimes.com