Election Commissions Bans This Marathi Word

The Election Commission (EC) has granted Sharad Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) the right to use a man blowing a “trumpet” as their election symbol, though it has banned the Marathi term “tutari” for clarity. This decision came after Pawar’s faction argued that “tutari” had previously led to voter confusion.

To prevent further misunderstanding, the Sharad faction requested that no similar symbols be assigned to others. Meanwhile Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction will contest the Maharashtra Assembly elections with the “clock” symbol. Supriya Sule, Sharad’s daughter, noted that their request for a different symbol was declined, though they had sought a “flower” instead.

Previously, the EC had assigned Ajit Pawar the “clock” symbol, which Sharad contested due to voter confusion. The Supreme Court later allowed Sharad’s group to keep their faction’s name and trumpet symbol while barring Ajit from using Sharad’s name or image. Maharashtra’s elections are set for November 20.