As Kerala gears up for the highly anticipated 2025 local body elections, the State Election Commission (SEC) has officially released an updated notification detailing the allocation of election symbols to various political parties and independent candidates. This crucial step marks a significant milestone in the electoral preparations.
Here’s a breakdown of the key national parties and their designated symbols:
- Communist Party of India (Marxist): Hammer, Sickle and Star
- Indian National Congress: Hand
- Bharatiya Janata Party: Lotus
- Bahujan Samaj Party: Elephant
- Aam Aadmi Party (AAP): Broom
- National People’s Party: Book
For the state-level parties operating in Kerala, the symbols assigned are:
- Communist Party of India: Ears of Corn and Sickle
- Indian Union Muslim League: Ladder
- Revolutionary Socialist Party: Spade and Stoker
- Kerala Congress (M): Two Leaves
- Kerala Congress: Autorickshaw
- Janata Dal (Secular): Woman farmer carrying paddy on her head
Beyond these, the SEC has also allocated specific symbols to 28 state parties from other regions and Union Territories, as well as to registered unrecognised political parties that hold seats in either the Kerala Legislative Assembly or any local bodies within the state.
Furthermore, a comprehensive list of 78 ‘free symbols’ has been made available for independent candidates to choose from. This list also encompasses symbols allocated to unrecognised parties not featured in the primary lists mentioned above. It’s worth noting that some symbols were assigned to parties on a ‘priority basis,’ indicating established use or preference.
The finalization of this list follows a thorough review process. The SEC initially released a draft list of symbols on September 19 this year and proceeded with the final notification after carefully considering all claims and objections raised by political entities. The decision also took into account the Election Commission of India’s directive issued on the same date regarding the delisting of registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs), ensuring compliance with national electoral guidelines.