Election symbols make a lot of difference for recognised political parties. If the voters are identified with a symbol, they will definitely get attached to it.
That is why, political parties make a special request to the Election Commission for the allotment of symbols to their parties.
However, if the symbols requested by new political parties are already allotted to other parties elsewhere in the country, the EC will use its discretion and allots symbols of its choice to the new parties.
On Sunday, EC issued a notification allotting “glass tumbler” symbol to Jana Sena Party headed by actor Pawan Kalyan.
The EC said Jana Sena can contest elections in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on this symbol.
The symbol will be given permanently to Jana Sena, if the party gets the recognised party status in Andhra Pradesh or Telangana.
For getting the recognition as a state party, Jana Sena has to get at least six per cent of the polled votes and win at least two MLAs seats in the coming assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, or at least eight per cent of the votes in Lok Sabha elections in Telangana or Andhra Pradesh. If it doesn’t get, Jana Sena will lose the party symbol and recognition.
Now, the question is whether the glass tumbler symbol will be catchy for Jana Sena to get the recognition from the people in the coming elections.
In 2009 elections, his brother megastar Chiranjeevi was allotted rail engine symbol by the EC, but it did not go well in to the people.
On the other hand, YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy could take is “ceiling fan” symbol effectively into the people, though it is not very attractive.
So, it all depends on how Pawan will popularise his glass tumbler symbol. He, however, is happy with the allotment of the symbol. In his tweet, he expressed happiness and the symbol evoked his childhood memories.
Describing it as a common man's symbol, Pawan thanked the EC for giving it a permanent symbol.
