Election 2018: Independents to arrow the tiger with eggplant and greenchilli
Majority of independent candidate insist to allot simple and culturally recognizable election symbol
From Dunya Election Cell
(WebDesk) Election symbol acquires pivotal significance in the campaigning for election. The symbol plays an umbilical part in bringing success or defeat to the political party or to the candidate. Th election symbol is not only used for the advertisement purpose by the party also this can often be maneuvered to mock or to criticize opponents as well.
Election Commission of Pakistan in May, had issued the list of election symbols for the general elections 2018. The list comprises of 331 election symbols. Out of 331, 110 are allotted to the political parties registered to ECP. Independents were required to select their election symbol from the remaining symbols available in the list.
The list of the election symbols being alloted to the political parties. Source: ECP
Also Read: ECP allots electoral symbol to 77 political parties
THE ABSURD ELECTION SYMBOLS AND THE DISPLEASED INDEPENDENTS
The ECP list of election symbols has few symbols which are being seen odious in contrast with the regional culture and is apprehended to bring offence and ridicule to the candidate. Majority of independent candidate insisted to allot simple and culturally recognizable election symbol as a large number of voters belong to the rural areas, where the rate of literacy is extremely low and voter cannot comprehend what picture actually, is being depicted by the election symbol.
Alphabets
Alphabets are also being introduced by the ECP in the general elections 2018. English Alphabets A, B, G, K, P and S will be allotted in the upcoming election to the independent candidates. Anticipated candidates are discontented over the allotment of election symbols and criticized if the symbols are used to make illiterate voters fimilarise to these characters. In candidates’ viewpoint, voters would not be able to recognize and obsign at the due symbol amid the huddle on Election Day.
Symbols available for independent candidate
Independent candidates expect to be allotted simple, intelligible and easy to recognize election symbol also it may generate disturbance in running an election campaign as well.
Vegetables
Vegetables have also been given the place as the election symbol in the latest list. This includes the vegetables which are often being used to mock the opponents. Given a candidate the symbol of eggplant or green chilli, makes it impossible for him to ask for vote over the said allotted election symbol. Candidates term it as a blatant defeat before the elections.
The list of the remaining election symbols to be alloted to the pindependents. Source: ECP
In the last election, an independent candidate was allotted radish, the election symbol. The symbol not only ridiculed him during the election campaigning also became a reason of derision even after the defeat in elections. People still disgustingly named him ‘Mooli Khan’. Hence, he decided not to take part in this election.
Also Read: PTI-G to move court against ECP over not allotting desired symbol
Crocodile
Unlike radish, another weird symbol being allotted is crocodile. Crocodile is widely being attributed as dishonest and corrupt. The candidates with this election symbol, cannot plunge into the election campaigning. This symbol presents opponents a range of grounds to name and shame the candidate being allotted the crocodile as symbol, unduly.
Musical Instrumnets
Candidates raised similar objections over the symbols such as viola (Rabab), dhool (drum), gramophone, tong (chimta), tambourine (duff) and band (baja), to run for the general elections 2018. According to them, how would on Earth a candidate having religious penchant, run the election campaign with these absurdly deriding symbols. These idiotic symbols can easily be manipulated by the opponents into raging the voter against the candidate being given these unwise symbols.
Minar-e-Pakistan
Minar-e-Pakistan is also a controversial symbol to be allotted to. Any candidate being given the symbol of Minar-e-Pakistan can easily knot himself with its history, pride and the glory appended to the insignia that may influence the voter. Opponents can object over the issuance of such flagrantly influential symbol to any candidate.
Extinct Objects
Other stirring signs in the list include the symbols of inexistent or extinct objects such as plough, well, spinning wheel, water mill and others. These symbols barely are in minds of the people of present era and to make them learn, recognize and influenced to cast vote in the favor of the candidate being allotted the symbols would be next to an impossible task.
Look alike Symbols
Some symbols are controversial because they quite look alike. For example, hammer and chopper, and pencil and pen, are very much seemingly similar to each other. Voter in the chaos of the process of casting vote may not be able to recognize the symbol over the ballot paper. Thereby, gun and pistol are also being used as the election symbol. The public display of ammunition is strictly prohibited during the election. According to them, how come the candidate or the supporters avoid to not exhibit the prohibited objects to highlight their election symbols?
Difficult to recognise Symbols
Parachute, printer, photocopier, table tennis court, traffic signal and typing machine are the symbols barely seen by the people of far flung regions though are quite familiar in the urban and to some extent few partially developed rural areas. Aged, illiterate and a simple common man of those regions usually search the symbols being printed over the ballot paper and mark the vote. Look alike symbols may mislead them and they would cast vote to a wrong candidate or waste their precious vote.
Every election, at least 5 percent votes get into a vain due to the inappropriate vote casting. To overcome this rate, also to satisfy the independent candidates, ECP should allot the election symbols addressing their concerns.
The chart of the symbols alloted to poliical parties and independent candidates. Source: ECP
For Dunya News Web Mehreen Fatima
