BRS seeks removal of lookalike symbols from free symbol list

BRS leaders urged the State Election Commission to delist symbols resembling the party’s Car symbol, citing voter confusion in the 2023 elections. They claimed over 72,000 votes were lost to lookalike symbols and sought corrective action before local polls

Hyderabad: In a bid to prevent voter confusion and protect its electoral identity, BRS leaders on Tuesday met State Election Commissioner Rani Kumudini seeking the removal of symbols resembling their party symbol “Car” from the list of free symbols. The SEC assured them that their request would be examined and necessary action would be taken.

Former MP B Vinod Kumar and BRS general secretary Soma Bharat Kumar submitted a representation detailing the impact of symbols similar to the “Car” symbol, such as the Chapati Roller, Camera, and Ship, on the party’s performance in the 2023 Assembly elections. They said the BRS lost over 72,409 votes to these lookalike symbols, with the Chapati Roller alone accounting for more than 60,000 diverted votes.

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In its eight-page representation, the BRS explained in detail the impact of these identical symbols and urged the SEC to delete all symbols resembling the Car. The party also requested the Commission to avoid allotting new free symbols similar to those of registered political parties, either to individual candidates or to registered but unrecognised parties.

Speaking to mediapersons, Soma Bharat Kumar said the lookalike symbols misled voters, especially the elderly and visually impaired, directly affecting BRS candidates. The leaders urged the SEC to suspend such symbols from future allocation to ensure clarity during the upcoming local body elections. They also pointed out that several symbols allotted to independent candidates resemble those of major political parties, leading to vote splitting and electoral disadvantage.