Big hit: Cricket bat scores over other symbols

In the world cup season, cricket bat or batsman are the biggest hits as poll symbols with 20% of the independents in the six municipal council and two nagar panchayat elections in the district.

In the world cup season, cricket bat or batsman are the biggest hits as poll symbols with 20% of the independents in the six municipal council and two nagar panchayat elections in the district.

These free symbols are the favourite choice of 36 of the 183 independents for the February 25 contests, which will have 323 candidates. In 13 municipal council wards going to the polls in Nurmahal, eight independents have batsman as symbol. Seven in Adampur, eight in Alawalpur, Five in Nakodar, and four in Phillaur and Kartarpur have picked up bat in the hope of cashing on the world cup fever.

The love for national game has taken back seat, as of the 183 independents, only two have picked up hockey stick as symbol. “Cricket is India’s favourite game,” said Sohan Lal Jassi, independent candidate from Ward 2 in Adampur, adding: “With the cricket world cup on, I’m sure the bat symbol will bring me luck.”

Madan Lal Maddi, independent from Alawalpur, said the image of bat was easy to recall for the voters in the cricket-crazy country. It certainly scored over other common items such as table, scissor, purse, cup, gas cylinder, pressure cooker, sewing machine, flute, whistle, and clothing as poll symbol.

The election commission rules allow independents have to choose their symbols in order of preference from the list of free icons specified for the state and union territory polls, and specify this preference in the nomination papers.

The symbol must be allotted immediately after the deadline for the withdrawal of candidatures is over.