Hyderabad: On Tuesday, BRS leaders requested the State Election Commission to exclude symbols like ‘Chapati Roller’, camera, and ship from the upcoming local body elections. They argue these symbols resemble their party’s car symbol too closely.
These symbols reportedly affected their candidates’ chances in the 2023 Assembly elections. The BRS highlighted that the camera’s rectangular shape mirrors the car’s front, and its flash resembles a vehicle’s windshield. This similarity confuses voters, especially the elderly, rural residents, and those with visual impairments, who might mistake it for a car.
Regarding the Chapati Roller, its lack of detail can lead voters to see it as a car sketch, especially from the front. The ship symbol’s portholes might be seen as headlights, while its middle part could be confused with a car’s bonnet and windshield.
B Vinod Kumar, a senior BRS member, stated that many voters might not recognize a Chapati roller as a household item but could link it to vehicles like cars. He noted that opponents exploit these similar symbols from the free list to mislead voters, impacting the BRS’s car symbol recognition on ballots.
Candidates using these symbols have, at times, received more votes than national parties. The resemblance of these symbols to the BRS car on ballots and EVMs leads to a loss of votes for BRS candidates. Thousands of votes have been diverted to these candidates, often supported by rival parties, he said.
BRS leaders warned that similar symbols could confuse BRS voters, redirecting votes to candidates from unrecognized parties and Independents. With the symbols displayed small on EVMs, it’s challenging for illiterate and older rural voters to distinguish them from the car symbol.
