A petitioner has moved to the Election Commission in order to get the iconic palm symbol used by the Indian National Congress [I] removed on the grounds of violating the electoral code of conduct. As filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, the petition / complaint states that the model code of conduct imposed by the ECI before the election process begins and continues until completion, also provides that campaigning shall stop 48 hours before the polls commence, and also the canvassing within 100 meters of the police station.
However, since Congress has a ‘palm’ as its election symbol, according to the advocate, their candidates, supporters and even agents carry it, even after the campaigning is officially halted. According to the complaint, ‘……inside polling booths, they [Congress supporters] misuse the election symbol by gesturing the palm of their hand,’ clearly in violation of the norms.
For those unaware, under Rule 5 of the Conduct of Election Rules 1961, the Election Commission of India officially specifies the election symbols for national political parties, state parties and independent candidates. On the basis of these very provisions, advocate Ashwini further added that ‘Palm of Hand’ is the only election symbol, which is part of human body and “incapable of being kept away from the body at any point of time. Hence it needs to be scrapped.”
Congress has had a long history with unique symbols. None can forget the iconic charkha within the white band of the Congress tricolor that was their official symbol till independence. Ironically, the iconic ‘palm’ was not Congress’ brainchild. Rather, it was the symbol of All India Forward Bloc, led by the Ruikar faction then. All India Forward Bloc is the very party that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose founded following his forced resignation from the Congress high command.
From two oxen yoked to the plough in 1951, Congress transitioned to the iconic cow and calf duo in 1971. It wasn’t until 1977 that the palm symbol was adopted, following a massive defeat in the post Emergency elections and a split in the Congress party. The present symbol is of the same Congress [I] that began in 1977.
So the question arises, should the ‘palm’ symbol be scrapped? Definitely, since the palm, to be truthful, looks more of an imposition of the ideology on the masses rather than an unbiased symbol. Besides, the point of this symbol being misused in the electoral process isn’t far from the truth either.
While the other arguments put in favor of the scrapping aren’t illogical, they might look a little out of place. However, it would be extremely interesting to note the observations of the Election Commission of India, as well as the court involved in the due process. Till then, let’s see what future has in store for Congress and their ‘iconic palm’.
