Election Symbols – How Parties Get Them and Why They Matter

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In India’s elections, a party’s symbol is more than just an image on a ballot paper – it is an identity. For millions of voters, especially in rural areas and among the less literate population, symbols are how they recognise their party or candidate.

From the Lotus of the BJP to the Hand of the Congress and the Bicycle of the Samajwadi Party, these images carry history, loyalty, and instant recognition.

Who Allots Election Symbols?

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the sole authority for allotting election symbols. It maintains a list of reserved symbols for recognised national and state parties, and a separate list of free symbols available to unrecognised parties and independent candidates.

Types of Symbols

• Reserved Symbols – Exclusively for recognised political parties. For example, the Lotus is reserved for BJP across India, and no other party can use it.
• Free Symbols – Common pool symbols like a Kite, Cup and Saucer, or Hockey Stick, allotted to independents or smaller parties on a first-come-first-served basis in a constituency.

How Parties Get a Symbol

For a recognised party:

• National or state parties retain their reserved symbols automatically.
• Recognition depends on performance in previous elections – measured by vote share and number of seats won.

For a new or unrecognised party:

1. Apply to the Election Commission with three symbol preferences from the free symbol list.
2. The ECI allots one based on availability in that constituency.
3. If the party performs well and meets recognition criteria in future elections, the symbol can become reserved for them.

Example:
The Aam Aadmi Party’s Broom started as a free symbol in Delhi but became reserved once AAP was recognised as a state party after the 2013 elections.

What Happens in a Party Split?

If a party splits into factions, the Election Commission decides which group keeps the original symbol. The decision is based on:

• Majority in the party’s organisational structure (office bearers).
• Majority among elected representatives (MLAs, MPs).

If no clear majority exists, the ECI may freeze the symbol temporarily and allot new ones to both factions.

Example:
When the Shiv Sena split in 2022, the Bow and Arrow symbol was frozen initially and later allotted to the faction recognised as the “real” Shiv Sena.

Why Symbols Matter So Much

• Voter Identification: In areas with low literacy, symbols are the primary way voters identify their choice.
• Brand Recall: A familiar symbol can influence voter loyalty across decades.
• Campaign Strategy: Party merchandise, posters, and even slogans often revolve around the symbol.

Example:
In Uttar Pradesh, the Cycle symbol of the Samajwadi Party has become shorthand for the party’s rural and farmer-focused image.

Symbol Disputes Are High-Stakes

Losing a well-known symbol can mean losing years of brand-building. That’s why disputes over symbols in party splits often go to the Supreme Court if a faction disagrees with the Election Commission’s decision.

Closing Note

In India’s vast and diverse democracy, an election symbol is not just art on paper – it’s political currency. It speaks to a voter in a crowded polling booth without a single word. Parties fight hard to get them, protect them, and keep them because, in many parts of the country, the symbol is the party in the eyes of the people.