The Election Commission (EC) has amended the Election Conduct Rules, 2008, for the upcoming parliamentary election, suspending the "Boat" symbol and introducing a "No" symbol for constituencies where there is only one candidate.
The EC issued a gazette notification on the amendment from its secretariat on Wednesday.
Under the amended Rule 9(1), a contesting candidate can be allocated any available symbol from the prescribed list, except those marked as suspended.
The EC’s list includes symbols such as pineapple, apple, mango, eagle, camel, cow, rose, bell, kite, truck, tractor, book, bicycle, tiger, rocket, rickshaw, plough, scissors, axe, horse, spectacles, umbrella and jug.
It also includes ship, torch, table, table clock, telephone, television, lock, weighing scales, sheaf of paddy, anchor, palanquin, butterfly, football, cauliflower, bucket, electric fan, light bulb, ladder, mug, peacock, torch, microphone, fish, car, motorcycle, mobile phone, rooster, lion, sunflower, sewing machine, deer, duck, hand, wristwatch, elephant, hammer, hurricane lamp, helicopter and handshake.
The "Boat" symbol is explicitly marked as “suspended” on the list.
The revised rules were issued under Article 94 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972.