Polls And Politics – The Funny Side Up

The high-voltage election campaigns, which saw political leaders trying to score brownie points against each other, finally came to an end, the voting was done and we are now waiting for the results with bated breath. Of course, all of us are familiar with the lotus symbol and the hand – the first represents the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the second is the symbol of the Indian National Congress. While the lotus signifies knowledge (as lotus is associated with Saraswati, the goddess of learning), the hand has raised too many slogans such as Congress ka hath, aam aadmi ke sath.

On the other hand, there are loads of political parties out there with funny names and humorous symbols, but not too many of us know much about them. So let us have a look at them this time around and enjoy politics the funny side up.

Last year, the Aam Aadmi Party was allotted the broom as its symbol and according to the party, “it suits the purpose for which they have entered politics – cleaning the filth, which has permeated into the government and the legislature.” Party leader Manish Sisodia said, “There were 10 options that we had given, including a candle, a water tap and a gas cylinder, among others. But the broom was always our first choice.”

Since then, broom has been the ubiquitous prop at every party rally or demonstration, and has given rise to slogans like lagegi jhaadu udegi dhool, na rahega panja na rahega phool, jhaadu chalao beiman bhagao and maaro mohariya taan ke, jhaadu ke nishaan pe. However, the real ‘áam’ party is Tamil Nadu-based Pattali Makkal Katchi, whose election symbol is mango.

In Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal, a party led by one of the most humorous politicians, Lalu Prasad, has the lantern as its symbol, depicting the pitiable power situation in the rural areas. On the other hand, Mizoram People’s Conference has a more progressive symbol – it has opted for the electric bulb.

Shibu Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s symbol is bow-and-arrow while in neighbouring Bihar, the arrow (without the bow) is the symbol of JD (U). We do fervently hope that these parties do not intend to take us back into history when these weapons were very much in use. Interestingly, comb is the symbol of Babulal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikas Morcha. One wonders what this symbol signifies, but it might end up alienating bald voters as comb is an object of envy for them.

But things are even more incongruous at times. For instance, all political parties try to project themselves as pro-poor, but the Lok Janshakti Party is happy to have a bungalow as the party’s symbol. In the South, DMK’s symbol is the Sun. Perhaps that is the reason why its chief M Karunanidhi is always seen with the sunglasses on!

Some other interesting election symbols include batsman (Gondwana Mukti Sena), spectacles (Indian National Lok Dal), inkpot and pen (J&K People’s Democratic Party), drum (United Democratic Party), conch (Biju Janata Dal) and hand pump (Rashtriya Lok Dal). However, the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal has the ultimate symbol – it is a chair, the primary objective for which all parties have been formed and for which they fight elections.

Apart from symbols, there are parties with amusing names like Gareeb Aadmi Party (a breakaway from the Aam Aadmi Party), Hum Sabki Party, Aam Janata Party, Aapka Hamara Party, Aazadi Ka Antim Aandolan Dal, Akahand Bharat Maha Sangh Sarvahara Krantikari Party, Akhil Bharatiya Bhrastachar Nirmoolan Sena, Akhil Bharatiya Desh Bhakt Morcha, Akhil Bharatiya Gareeb Party, Annadata Party, Bharat Ki Lok Jimmedar Party and Jagte Raho Party.

But humorous symbols or names are not just limited to Indian political parties. There are quite a few political parties across the globe with bizarre policies. In Canada, the Rhinoceros Party made promises of repealing the Law of Gravity, capturing the United States and Antarctica, and disposing the country’s nuclear waste in the Senate. The party also promised to break all their promises and nominated a professional clown as its candidate.

In New Zealand, McGillicuddy Serious Party ((McGSP) campaigned with the slogan, “If you want to waste your vote, vote for us.”