Pune: The State Cooperative Election Authority has decided to remove the "Tutari" symbol from the list of approved election symbols for cooperative society elections.

This decision follows a similar action by the Election Commission during the Lok Sabha elections, where the resemblance between the "Man Blowing a Tutari" and "Tutari" symbols caused voter confusion, negatively impacting the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar).

The NCP had filed a complaint with the Election Commission, leading to the removal of the "Tutari" symbol from the general election symbol list. Reflecting this precedent, the State Cooperative Election Authority also reviewed and revised its list of symbols for cooperative society elections.

In accordance with the provisions of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies (Election to Committees) Rules, 2014, the authority had previously issued various circulars regarding the election symbols to be allotted to candidates in cooperative society elections.

According to the rules, symbols associated with recognized political parties cannot be allotted to candidates in cooperative society elections. Following these rules, the authority issued an order on November 28, 2022, prohibiting the use of previously removed symbols.

However, it was brought to the authority's attention that some symbols in the circulars issued on October 10, 2014, and December 31, 2014, bear a resemblance to those given to political parties by the Election Commission.

As a result, the authority found it necessary to revise and remove certain symbols, including the "Tutari" symbol listed under serial number 25 in the December 31, 2014 circular. Secretary of the authority Ashok Gade recently released this amendment.