The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has formally lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, accusing the INDIA alliance partners in Jharkhand of misusing the party's symbol for campaigning purposes.
This complaint comes ahead of the upcoming elections to the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, scheduled for November 13 and 20, with vote counting set for November 23.
The CPI(M) has clarified that it is not part of the INDIA alliance in Jharkhand, and the party is independently contesting nine seats in the 81-member assembly.
The complaint states that despite this, the party’s symbol—a hammer, sickle, and star—has been used by the Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in their campaigns without permission from the CPI(M).
Prakash Viplav, the state secretary of CPI(M), emphasised that the party is not included in the seat-sharing agreement among the INDIA bloc members in Jharkhand. Only CPI(ML) Liberation, Congress, JMM, and RJD are officially part of the alliance in the state. He noted that the use of the CPI(M)'s symbol by these parties has caused significant confusion, both among voters and party candidates.
Viplav further stressed that the unauthorised use of the hammer and sickle symbol is creating unnecessary complications, potentially influencing voters who might associate the symbol with the INDIA alliance. To address this, CPI(M) has requested the Election Commission to intervene and put a stop to the misuse of their party’s symbol.
The CPI(M)'s complaint highlights the importance of fair and transparent campaigning, with parties expected to respect each other's symbols and identities. The issue raised by CPI(M) is not just about symbol misuse, but also about ensuring that voters are not misled or confused during the election process. The Election Commission’s role in addressing such concerns is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the democratic process.
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