EC allots poll symbol to Shinde faction — ‘two swords & shield’

“The symbol is not in the list of free symbols. It resembles an erstwhile reserved symbol ‘Do Talwarein aur Ek Dhal (Two Swords & Shield)’ of ‘People’s Democratic Movement’ which was derecognised as a state party in 2004 and further delisted on 26.12.2016,” the EC said in a letter to Shinde.

The EC has earlier rejected the Shinde group’s first preference for its poll symbol — the Sun — saying it resembles two already reserved symbols. It said the symbol of ‘Sun (without rays)’ has been allotted to the Zoram Nationalist Party (a recognised party in Mizoram) and the ‘Rising Sun’ to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

The poll panel had also rejected the Shinde faction’s other two choices — “Trishul (trident)” and “Gada (mace)” — as poll symbols, saying these have religious connotations.

On October 10, as it allotted the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction the poll symbol of “flaming torch” (mashaal), the EC had asked the Shinde group to submit a fresh list of three symbols by 10 am Tuesday.

Last week, the EC ordered an interim freeze on the Shiv Sena’s Bow-and-Arrow symbol.