Pipani Symbol Cancelled by Election Commission; Shashikant Shinde Says Political Outcome Could Have Been Different

Pune, 13 November 2025 – The Election Commission of India has removed the “Pipani” (trumpet) symbol from the list of free election symbols after receiving repeated complaints that it created confusion among voters during recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Shashikant Shinde reacted strongly to the decision, saying the move came too late and that the political picture in Maharashtra and the country might have looked very different if the symbol had been scrapped earlier. He said party workers and voters had struggled because independent candidates used the Pipani symbol, which closely resembled the “man blowing a tutari” symbol associated with the Sharad Pawar-led party. According to him, the resemblance misled voters and affected results in several constituencies.

Shinde shared that the party had raised this issue multiple times during and after the elections, arguing that the similar visuals caused unnecessary confusion. The Election Commission’s decision to finally remove the Pipani symbol has brought some relief to the party, but Shinde noted that the damage had already been done. He described the move as wisdom that arrived too late and expressed disappointment that it took a full election cycle for action to be taken.

Political analysts have also pointed to the impact of symbol confusion, especially in rural regions where visual identification plays a crucial role in voter decision-making. They say the overlap between the two symbols created avoidable issues for ground workers and contributed to incorrect voting in some booths. With the symbol now removed, analysts expect cleaner branding, clearer instructions and fewer complications for voters in future elections.

The decision has reopened conversations about the need for stricter scrutiny while allocating symbols to independent candidates. Parties argue that symbols that closely resemble registered party symbols should be avoided to prevent misidentification. The Election Commission is expected to review other symbols in the coming months to ensure that similar conflicts don’t arise during upcoming polls.

For now, the removal of the Pipani symbol is being seen as a corrective step, even if late. With major elections ahead, political workers hope the clarity will streamline campaigning and eliminate one of the factors that previously led to confusion.

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