Already in the throes of a tense election campaign, the controversies related to the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency show no signs of abating. Now a new issue of allocation of election symbols for the candidates has cropped up after an Independent candidate was allocated the symbol of `Trumpet’ which happened to be the namesake of the election symbol of NCP (SP) in Marathi. The NCP (SP) raised an objection to it by submitting an application to the Election Commission of India (ECI) yesterday, even as the Returning Officer confirmed the symbol and name to the Independent candidate today. The NCP (SP) has been given the symbol of a 'Man Blowing Turha’ and the musical instrument is called `Tutari’ in Marathi, while the Independent candidate has been allocated the symbol `Trumpet’ which is also called `Tutari’ in Marathi. A total of 38 candidates were finalized for the Baramati lok sabha constituency on Monday after eight of the 46 candidates withdrew their nominations. The Returning Officer for the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency then allocated symbols and their names from the list prepared by Election Commission of India to the Independent candidates after considering their preferences. Independent candidate Sohail Shah Sheikh who is a resident of Beed had submitted his nomination for the Baramati seat. “The Baramati Returning Officer had allocated me the Trumpet symbol but the NCP (SP) objected to it saying the name matches the Marathi name of the party’s symbol. However, the Returning Officer has confirmed the symbol to me today,” said Sheikh, adding that the symbol has raised his hopes of winning the election. According to NCP (SP) City Unit President Prashant Jagtap, the party has written a letter to the Election Commission of India objecting to the symbol allocated to an independent candidate in the Baramati constituency. “The ECI has given the name and party symbol to the split faction of the original party. Thus, the entire election campaign came to us with the additional challenge of reaching out to voters with the new allocated party symbol of a `man blowing the Sringa’. It is anyways a difficult thing to do in this short time, so that there is no confusion. Given this the allocation of the `Trumpet’ symbol which is also called `Tutari’ in Marathi to an independent is wrong, hence an objection was raised with ECI,” he said. I ncidentally, the NCP (SP) is facing its toughest challenge in Baramati as its sitting MP Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar, is challenged by Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, of NCP. The close content will be keenly watched across the country as for the first time the fight is within the Pawar family, with each side going all out to prove its supremacy.
