‘Similar-looking symbols issue being studied’

TRS represents to CEC on subject of election symbols that were confusing voters

The State election authority, Chief Electoral Officer’s office has decided to seriously examine the representation given by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi for not allotting symbols resembling the party’s car to independents and others in the future elections.

The ruling party has complained that symbols like electric iron, truck and others have very close resemblance to its car symbol and thereby, causing confusion among voters when they press the button on the electronic voting machine. In the process, voters who wanted to exercise their franchise in favour of the ruling party pressed wrong buttons resulting in loss of huge number of votes to the ruling party.

The seriousness of the issue could be seen from the fact that TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao represented the matter during his meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora in New Delhi on Thursday wherein he requested the election authorities to ensure that such confusion which was detrimental to the interests of the ruling party did not recur in the future elections. “We have received representation about non-serious candidates contesting elections on symbols closely resembling the car symbol of the TRS,” CEO Rajat Kumar told

The Hindu . He said he had decided to prepare a report on the issue and forward it to the Election Commission soon. “The allotment of symbols is made by the EC I have decided to address letter to the EC after preparing a report on the issue,” he said.