Mumbai: Digital gadgets dominate the list of free symbols that was announced by the Election Commission (EC) for the upcoming Lok Sabha (LS) polls in the state. This time there are 198 free symbols, which have more than doubled as compared to 87 symbols in 2014.
According to EC officials, the free symbols will be allocated to unregistered parties and independent candidates in the state other than national and state level political parties.
The symbols of national and state level parties are reserved. In 2014 election there were 87 free symbols, of them some have been dropped and some new ones have been added. The unregistered parties and independent candidates can select from these symbols, which are distributed to candidates as per the Election Symbols (Reservation and Distribution) Order, 1968 for the LS and Vidhan Sabha (VS) elections in a prescribed format, said officials.
While digital gadgets is dominant in the list of free symbols, the list also includes articles that are used daily, personal articles, communication means, fruits, vegetables, kitchen articles, games, agriculture, field, construction sector etc.
The free symbols include a mixture of old and new commodities like the sand watch of old times, wheels, gramophone, typewriter, diesel pump to modern day laptops, computer mouse, CCTV camera, pen drive, robot, headphone etc.
Articles required in daily use like toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, soap case, slippers, shoes, socks, pillow etc are also included in the symbols list.
To give the message of personal safety, helmet has been included in the free symbols by EC. Farming symbols include farmer growing sugarcane, coconut garden, diesel pump, farmer driving tractor, tiller, well etc. to emphasize the importance of agriculture
Other symbols include kitchen items like gas cylinder, refrigerator, mixer, pressure cooker, hundi, kadhai, frying pan, etc. vehicles, construction materials, sports related things, cricket bowler, football player, pearl necklace, diamond, ring, musical instruments and others.
