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Election symbols are very important for parties in elections. Actually, after independence the literacy rate of the country was low, hence election symbols were introduced to identify parties or candidates. Interestingly, the election symbols of the major parties are fixed but the independent candidates have to choose the election symbol from the list available with the Election Commission. This involves allocation of election symbols on a first come, first served basis. Another interesting thing about these election symbols is that in 1950 M.S. Sethi was appointed as a draftsman and his job was to create election symbols. He made the symbols with the help of HB pencil. At that time pictures of animals were used in elections. However, the use of images of animals and birds was discontinued after protests against it in 1991.
How did BJP get Kamal?
BJP is said to be the largest party in the world today. Its foundation was laid in 1980. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee started Jan Sangh in 1951. His election symbol was Deepak. After the crisis, Jan Sangh merged with Janata Party and its target became light farmers. When BJP was established in 1980, its first president was Atal Bihari Vajpayee. After this, lotus was chosen as the election symbol of the party in accordance with Hindu tradition. One of the reasons behind choosing lotus was that it was also used against the British in the independence movement.
Story of Congress's claws
The first election symbol of Congress was a pair of oxen. But when Congress was divided, Jagjivan Ram's Congress (R) was considered the real Congress and Nijalingappa led Congress (O) was not given the election symbol of two bulls. Later the Supreme Court stayed the Election Commission's order and said that both the groups will no longer use the old election symbol. After that, in 1971, Congress (O) was given the charkha and Congress (R) was given the election symbol of cow and calf. After this there was a split in Congress (R). Then Indira Gandhi's Congress (I) was given the claw mark. Indira Gandhi wanted an election symbol of cow and calf but the Election Commission rejected her demand. After this, the Supreme Court also stayed the order of the Election Commission. Thus, from 1978 till today, the election symbol of Congress has been the paw.