Munugode bypoll: 'Car' lookalikes cut down TRS winning margin by 6,500 votes

HYDERABAD: Independents with poll symbols bearing a striking resemblance to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi's 'Car' played a crucial role in cutting short TRS' winning streak by 65% - polling 6,544 votes in its over 10,000 victory margin over BJP.
Of the 'Car' lookalikes, the 'Chapati-Maker' symbol appears to have eaten away the most by bagging 2,400 votes. Two other symbols - Road Roller and Chappals - got 1,874 and 2,270 votes respectively. After a quick autopsy of poll results, TRS leaders said, the party would have clocked a higher victory margin if Election Commission of India (ECI) heeded their plea to remove the 'Car' lookalikes.
TRS had petitioned ECI and HC to get these removed from the free-symbols list for Independents. The party approached the poll panel and also moved HC, but did not get relief. TRS had raised objections to symbols like Road Roller, Chapati Maker, Camera, Doli, Soap Dish, Television, Sewing Machine and Ship.
While the 'Chapati-Maker' was allotted to Samaikyandra Parirakshana Samithi candidate Maramoni Srisailam Yadav, the 'Road Roller' symbol was given to K Shiva Kumar of Yuga Tulasi Party. Erupula Galaiah, another independent candidate, got the 'Chappal' symbol. The 'Camera' and 'Room Heater' symbols secured 500 and 400 votes respectively.
"BJP fielded Independents and ensured they bagged 'Car' lookalikes. We raised objections on the 'Road Roller' symbol, which was removed from the free symbols list in 2011, but resurfaced in the Munugode bypoll. Had these symbols been ejected, the TRS victory margin would have crossed 17,000 votes," KTR said. Suspecting sabotage by lookalikes, TRS had campaigned with dummy EVMs to educate voters.