“Symbols should be free from any kind of bias,” says Mukul Sinha, chairperson, New Socialist Movement (NSM). “In the list of free symbols released by the Election Commission are bangles, frock, necklace and ladies’ purse — all directly related to women. Such symbols have an obvious gender bias.”

The symbols range from furniture to fruits, accessories, clothing and cutlery.

Independent candidates have a reason to crib. “The election symbols available to unrecognised parties are unimaginative and apolitical. A symbol should be able to convey a message,” says Sinha.

The symbols are assigned to the candidate when he files his nomination on the appointed day. In case there is a conflict of more than a candidate wanting a particular symbol, the returning officer makes the choice by picking lots.

Santhanagopalan Vasudev, of Lok Paritran, believes that everything is symbolic and candidates can use any symbol to their advantage by using it properly. “Unless a party has a fixed symbol which can be chosen to reflect its ideology, it will have to select one from the list given by the Election Commission. Any symbol allocated to us at the time of filing nominations will have to be used during the elections.” Lok Paritran prefers the symbols of the axe, drum or book, which common man can easily identify with.

The Lok Sangharsh Morcha (LSM), which has declared four independent candidates from four constituencies in Gujarat, works mostly in the tribal belt of the state. “The marginal farmers whom our party works for should be easily able to associate with the election symbol allocated to us,” says Ambarish Rai of LSM.

An Independent candidate says, “After the election, we will campaign against the election symbols provided in the list of free symbols. Most symbols neither convey a message nor can be related to any ideology. We need a new list of symbols which reflect the modern day needs of the people.”