@the_news_21
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday finally decided to allot the ‘Dhal Talwar’ as the election symbol for the Eknath Shinde led faction. The design of the symbol comprises two swords and a shield. On October 10, the ECI had already approved the new name of ‘Balasahebanchi Shivsena’ for the Shinde faction. However, the ECI again had turned down the choice of symbols submitted by the Shinde faction – Sun, Surya or Suraj, Dhal Talwar and Peepal Tree, before approving the Dhal and Talwar as the election symbol for the Shinde faction.
The ECI in its interim order issued to the Shinde faction had stated that the Commission has already approved the new name of Balasahebanchi Shivsena on October 10. However, it had turned down its previous choices of election symbols of – Rising Sun, Gada and Trishul. The ECI had rejected the choices of Trishul and Gada on grounds of they having religious connotations and the Rising Sun being the reserved symbol of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu and union territory of Puducherry.
Today also the ECI in its interim order pointed out that the three choices submitted by the Shinde faction – Sun, Surya or Suraj, Dhal Talwar and Peepal Tree were not part of its Free Symbols list.
The ECI turned down the symbol of Sun, Surya or Sooraj as the election symbol as it already resembles the reserved symbol of Sun (without rays) and Rising Sun of recognised political parties of Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) in the state of Mizoram and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu and union territory of Puducherry. The symbol also resembles other Free Symbols like Apple, Cauliflower and Football.
While finally allotting the ‘Dhal Talwar’ as the election symbol to the Shinde faction, the ECI noted that the symbol is not in the list of free symbols. Moreover, it resembles an erstwhile reserved symbol of ‘Do Talwarein aur Ek Dhal’ (Two Swords & Shield) of the People’s Democratic Movement which was derecognised as a state party in 2004 and further delisted on December 26, 2016.
The ECI order further states that the election symbol is to be allotted to the candidate set up, if any, by your group (Shinde faction) in the current bye-elections and till the final order is passed in the Dispute case number I of 2022.
Since the Shinde faction is not contesting the November 3 assembly by-election to the Andheri East constituency, the allotment of the new election symbol or the new party’s name does not hold any significance at least for the current by-poll. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already announced the name of its former corporator Murji Patel to take on Rutuja Ramesh Latke of the Thackeray faction.
