The Supreme Court (SC) of India today dismissed a petition filed by Telangana's ruling party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) seeking direction to the Election Commission not to issue poll symbols resembling its party symbol ‘car’ for the upcoming assembly election in Telangana.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal refused to entertain petitions filed by the BRS party. The court stated that voters are intelligent enough to differentiate between car and road roller symbols. SC also questioned the BRS party for filing such a plea which could lead to postponing the upcoming election. BRS's petition was not to allot the symbols, which are similar, and resemble the BRS Party Symbol-Car because it would create confusion. The petitioner submitted that when voters go to EVMs certain symbols like road roller, chapatti maker and camera appear similar to the BRS party symbol car and at times their party members may lose votes. BRS had earlier approached the Delhi High Court with the same request, but it was also rejected.
Regarding the matter, the BRS leader had said that the people who want to vote BRS party and car symbol but due to their problem in identifying the right symbol might vote for a different symbol that is similar to the car symbol so the exact mandate might not come out. Elections will be held in Telangana on November 30 and the counting of votes will take place on 3rd December.