Similar poll symbol names led to defeat of NCP (SP) in Satara LS seat: Jayant Patil
Pune, Jun 6: Maharashtra NCP (SP) chief Jayant Patil has claimed a similarity between the name of his party's poll symbol and that of an independent candidate created confusion among voters, leading to the defeat of his party nominee in Satara Lok Sabha seat.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Patil said it seemed symbols with similar names were allotted to independent candidates deliberately for the division of votes and his party will raise this issue with the Election Commission of India.
The ECI had allotted “man blowing turha” (a traditional trumpet) as the poll symbol to the NCP (SP), after a split in the Nationalist Congress Party founded by Sharad Pawar.
In the Satara Lok Sabha seat, BJP's Udayanraje Bhonsle, a descendant of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, defeated NCP(SP) candidate Shashikant Shinde by more than 32,000 votes on Tuesday.
Independent candidate from Satara seat, Sanjay Gade, having 'tutari' (trumpet) as the poll symbol, got 37,062 votes.
Before the polls, the NCP (SP) had filed a complaint with the ECI over the symbol of a trumpet-like instrument with the name 'tutari' allotted to an independent candidate contesting from its stronghold Baramati.
In the Marathi list of candidates contesting in the Satara Lok Sabha seat, the name of the symbol allotted to the independent nominee was mentioned as 'tutari' while in the list in English, it was written as 'trumpet'.
In the Marathi list, the NCP (SP) candidate's symbol name was mentioned as 'tutari wajnavar manoos', and in the English list, it was mentioned as 'man blowing turha'.
"Our symbol was 'man blowing tutari' but at the same time, the trumpet symbol was also given to independent candidates and it was called 'tutari' in the list. As a result, in all the constituencies where the NCP (SP) contested, a considerable number of votes went to candidates having the trumpet symbol," Patil claimed.
"In Dindori, the candidate having the trumpet symbol received more than 1 lakh votes. In Satara, our candidate got defeated by 32,000 votes and at the same time, the candidate with the trumpet symbol polled more than 37,000 votes," he pointed out.
In the Madha and Beed constituencies also, around 48,000 and 54,000 votes went respectively to candidates with the trumpet symbol, the NCP(SP) leader said.
"The similarity in the symbol name created confusion among voters. We had taken objection before the elections and raised the issue with the ECI, but it paid no heed. It seems this symbol was allotted deliberately for the division of votes," he claimed.
Patil said they will put forth their side before the ECI on the issue.
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Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar sings RSS anthem, stuns Assembly
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president, took everyone by surprise on Friday when he sang the RSS anthem during a discussion in the state Assembly on the stampede near Chinnaswamy stadium, which claimed the lives of 11 people.
A sudden musical note amazed the House, which heard the first few lines of the RSS Anthem ‘Namaste Sada Vatsale Matrubhoome’.
Shivakumar’s recital came when the BJP legislators accused Shivakumar of being an ‘abettor’ of the stampede as he created mass frenzy.
They alleged that Shivakumar went to receive the RCB team on their arrival at the Bengaluru airport, waved the Kannada flag throughout the journey from the airport to the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Replying to the accusations, Shivakumar said, "I am a member of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and people there, including the KSCA secretary, are my friends. I am the Bengaluru In-Charge Minister. I had gone to the Airport and Stadium (on June 4). I also held the Karnataka flag, I did wish them (RCB) and I kissed the cup as well. I have done my job".
He added, "The accident happened. Such things have happened in other states as well. If needed, I will read out the list of incidents that have occurred in other places as well. I, too, have many things to say about you as well".
The Deputy CM also said he grew up with Home Minister G Parameshwara.
To this, Leader of the Opposition BJP R Ashoka reminded Shivakumar that he once said he wore ‘RSS Chaddi’.
Much to the amusement of the House, Shivakumar sang ‘Namaste Sada Vatsale Matrubhoome......’.
The opposition welcomed the anthem by thumping the table but there was an absolute silence in the Congress camp.
The BJP legislator V Sunil Kumar quipped, saying, "Hope these lines are not removed from the records".
Shivakumar sought to know did the governments ever take responsibility whenever such incidents took place.
"You should feel proud that this government quickly (after the stampede) acted and initiated action against police officers and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru," he said.
