VBA fumes as poll symbol ‘Gas Cylinder’ put on free-for-all list

On November 8, the State Election Commission released the symbols of parties as well as a list of 194 free symbols available to independent candidates. The ‘Gas Cylinder’ was among those listed as free.

An official from the SEC said the rules governing symbol allotment were laid down in an order dated May 5, 2025. “As per the rules, in case of only registered party which have won 5 per cent of total seats contested in previous local body elections, will get the symbol used previously. Also, if the party is registered and not recognised, but has contested assembly and Lok Sabha polls, then the said party will be given a symbol of their preference,” the official said.

The rule further states, “If a registered unrecognized political party has won at least five per cent of the total seats in the preceding general election of a Local Self-Government body (other than a Panchayat Samiti) or if five per cent of the total seats in that Local Self-Government body comes to less than one seat and if the candidate of that party has won at least one seat, then, at the request of that party, one of the free symbols shall be declared as temporarily reserved for that party for general election of that Local Self-Government body. That free symbol shall not be allotted to any other candidate in the election of that Local Self-Government body.”

Telang argued that since local body polls had not been held in Maharashtra in several years, the VBA had no opportunity to contest earlier. “How are we supposed to contest local body polls when we were not formed then? But we did contest LS and Assembly polls and ECI has given us the symbol. The central provision should overrule the state provisions,” he said, adding that Prakash Ambedkar held a meeting with the SEC regarding the same.

The SEC maintained that it will be following the existing rules.