Can a Political Party have the Cockroach as its Election Symbol? 

Why in News?

The issue of election symbols recently came into focus following the emergence of the satirical “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), a youth pressure group formed in response to remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. 

The group’s use of the cockroach as a political metaphor sparked public discussion on whether a political party can obtain a cockroach as its official election symbol. Under the current framework of the Election Commission of India (ECI), such a request is unlikely to be approved.

Election Symbols in India: Why They Matter?

• Election symbols are central to India’s electoral system. They help voters identify parties and candidates easily, especially in a country with linguistic diversity and varying levels of literacy. Symbols also create political memory, emotional association and campaign recall.
• For example, the lotus, hand, elephant, bicycle, hammer and sickle, and broom have become part of the political identity of parties and their support bases.

Legal Framework Governing Election Symbols:

The allotment of symbols is governed by the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, issued by the Election Commission under Article 324 of the Constitution. The Order classifies symbols into two categories: Reserved Symbols & Free Symbols. 

1. Reserved Symbols: These are exclusively allotted to recognised political parties. Recognised Parties

• National Parties
• State Parties

A recognised party’s candidates automatically receive the party’s reserved symbol in elections.

2. Free Symbols: Free symbols are available for:

• Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs)
• Independent candidates

Candidates may express preferences for a symbol from the free-symbol list, but the final decision rests with the Election Commission and Returning Officers. If multiple candidates seek the same symbol, specific allocation rules apply. 

What are Registered Unrecognised Political Parties?

• A party registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, but not meeting the electoral performance criteria required for recognition as a State or National Party, is classified as a Registered Unrecognised Political Party (RUPP).
• Such parties do not possess permanent election symbols and must generally choose from the free-symbol pool.

What types of Symbols are allowed?

The Election Commission periodically revises the list of free symbols. The latest list contains approximately 184 free symbols. These include symbols representing:

• Household Articles: Air conditioner, Doorbell, Toothbrush, TV remote, Mixer
• Agricultural Equipment: Farming tools, Rural implements
• Food Items
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Sports Equipment

The objective is to provide simple, easily identifiable, and non-controversial visual symbols.

Why are some symbols restricted in Certain States?

• A symbol that is reserved for a recognised State Party in one state cannot simultaneously be used as a free symbol in that state. For example, the “apple” symbol may be freely allotted in some states but not in others where it is already reserved for a recognised political party.
• This reflects the federal nature of India’s party system, where different recognised state parties can legally possess the same symbol in different states if their electoral jurisdictions do not overlap.

Can a Cockroach become an Election Symbol?

• Under the current Election Commission practice, the answer is highly unlikely.
• The principal reason is that the Election Commission generally does not allot animals, birds, or insects as new election symbols. This policy emerged following concerns raised by animal welfare organisations in the 1990s.

Why did the Election Commission stop Allotting Animal Symbols?

• Animal rights activists argued that the use of animals as political symbols often resulted in cruelty during election campaigns.
• A frequently cited example comes from the 1989 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, when a faction of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam reportedly used live roosters in campaign processions after receiving the rooster symbol. Animal welfare advocates alleged that large numbers of birds suffered injuries and death during campaign activities.
• Following such concerns, the Election Commission gradually discontinued the allotment of new animal-based symbols.

Existing Exceptions:

• Some parties continue to use animal symbols because they received them before the policy change. The most prominent example is the elephant symbol of the Bahujan Samaj Party.
• These are exceptions and do not imply that new parties can obtain animal or insect symbols today.