A fresh controversy has erupted surrounding the local body elections in Dausa, where several independent candidates have strongly protested against the symbols allotted to them. Multiple candidates have expressed deep resentment after being assigned the slipper as their official election symbol, arguing that it is widely considered inauspicious. They contend that the election authority should not have included such an item in the list of available symbols, let alone placed it so prominently in the sequence.
The Sequence of Almirah and Slipper
According to the protesting independent candidates, the official list places the almirah symbol at the very top, followed immediately by the slipper at the second position. Because the allotment is being carried out strictly in this sequential order, a large number of independent candidates are ending up with the slipper symbol. Every candidate entering the electoral fray naturally desires a symbol they consider favorable and auspicious for their campaign, but the widespread assignment of this particular item has triggered immediate dissatisfaction among the contenders.
Demand for Symbol Revision
The disgruntled candidates argue that if an individual has not explicitly opted for a slipper among their preferred choices, they should not be forced to accept it. They have raised serious questions about the current allotment mechanism, stating that placing the slipper as the second option directly impacts candidates on the ground. Many participants had tried filling in their preferred choices during the nomination phase, but are now being handed symbols purely based on the prescribed numerical sequence.
Returning Officer Clarifies the Process
Addressing the growing uproar, Returning Officer Sanju Meena clarified the administrative stand by stating that all symbols are being allotted strictly in accordance with the guidelines issued by the State Election Commission. She explained that the distribution must follow a sequential order as mandated by the rules. According to Sanju Meena, several candidates had filled in symbols in their nomination papers that were not part of the commission's approved list of 40 symbols, making it impossible to grant those unlisted preferences.
Administrative Stance on Allotment
The administration emphasized that the allotment follows a set pattern where the first candidate receives the almirah and the subsequent candidate is allotted the slipper. This specific sequencing has made the slipper symbol a major talking point among independents. While the candidates continue to voice their displeasure over a symbol they deem unacceptable, the local administration maintains that the entire procedure is bound by rigid state guidelines, leaving the matter locked in a standoff between administrative rules and candidate grievances.
