In pictures | The story of election symbols - Find out how a party gets its symbol?

SUMMARY

With nearly 60 parties contesting in the 2020 Bihar Election, how do you recognise parties from independent candidates? Here's a look a how a party symbol is allotted.

By Yashi Gupta Oct 14, 2020 11:28:51 PM IST (Published)

Election symbols play an important role in the identification of a party.

In Bihar Elections, Hindu Samaj Party has been allotted the symbol of a 'pestle and mortar' while Aam Adhikar Morcha has the symbol of a 'chapati roller' and Rashtriya Jan Vikas Party has been given a 'baby walker' symbol.

Some party symbols are free, while some are reserved.

8 national parties and 64 state parties have reserved symbols.

Since the first general elections, BJP and the Congress have changed their party symbols thrice.

However, the image always represent aspects of everyday -- from a stack of tires and a gramophone, to an auto rickshaw or a cricketer.

Many of the symbols are the work of artist MS Sethi, who for decades served as a draftsman for the Election Commission of India.

After Jayalalithaa’s death, AIADMK split into two factions and both had staked claim to the iconic two leaves symbol. EC allotted the two leaves symbol to Palaniswami-Panneerselvam faction as they enjoyed the support of the majority of AIADMK’s legislators and organisational wings.