Question

Hired in 1950, M S Sethi was a draughtsman for the ECI. For several years, he sat with officials, deciding what objects were easily recognisable to voters. He then drew these objects.

Why do you think Sethi was given this task?

• A. The objects were listed as official symbols for the Commission, with a different one being used for every election.
• B. The Commission maintains a pool of these figures, from which candidates are allotted symbols.
• C. The drawings were appended with messages about elections and used as posters for electoral literacy.
• D. Every voter in the first general election of 1951-52 was assigned a symbol prepared by Sethi.

Answer 1

The correct option is B The Commission maintains a pool of these figures, from which candidates are allotted symbols.

Given the low rates of literacy in the country, the Election Commission in 1950 decided to prepare a repository of symbols. This list was prepared to represent political parties and independent candidates that could easily be recognised by voters. Sethi was hired for this very task. To this day, thousands of symbols created by Sethi are maintained by the Commission. Once recognised, parties must choose three symbols, in order of preference, after which they are allocated one by the ECI. Once an image is "reserved," it cannot be used by any other party or candidate.