Poll symbols of candidates have their own tale to tell

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 15

Independent candidates contesting the coming Municipal Corporation elections have been allocated rather interesting election symbols.

Drawn from essential items used in daily life, these symbols have become the talk of the town. A candle, a truck, a boat, a telephone, an LPG cylinder, bat and a batsman are some of the symbols, which have caught the fancy of the electorate. As many as 156 Independent candidates are in the fray for the MC elections.

Former Akali councillor and also former Senior Deputy Mayor Avtar Singh Truckanwala is contesting as an Independent candidate and has been allotted ‘a tractor’ as his election symbol. Residents of Sultanwind Road and the adjoining areas, from where he is seeking votes, wonder why he was not been given a truck as his election symbol, as he uses it as his last name.

In a unique way, Independent candidate Smudar Pal along with his supporters carries his election symbol a candle’ in his constituency outside the Hathi gate. Hailing from a slum colony, Hindustan Basti, he is getting good support from people.

Young and a cricket aficionado Sagar Sethi got ‘batsman’ as his election symbol and in order to attract attention of cricket lovers and the youth, he is propagating his symbol intensively.

Independent candidate from Ward No. 18, Bal Krishan Sharma, who has been allotted an ‘LPG cylinder’ as his election symbol is canvassing with LPG refills to familiarise electorates with his election symbol.

From the Naraingarh area, Gurdev Singh Judgi has been displaying his election symbol ‘telephone’ on buntings and posters to attract the attention of voters of his Ward No. 84.

Overall, 413 candidates are in the fray. Of these, 253 have been fielded by political parties, including 85 by the Congress, 50 by the BJP, 36 by the SAD, 62 by the Aam Adami Party, nine by the Apna Punjab Party, eight by the CPI and three by the CPM.

Most of the wards have four or six candidates. The maximum of 11 candidates, including six Independents, are contesting from Ward No. 56.