Chhavi Bhatia

Chandigarh—In a major disappointment to the party, the Sanyukt Samaj Manch (SSM) failed to get itself registered as a party and procure an election symbol even as filing nominations for Punjab assembly elections drew to a close on Tuesday. The candidates will now contest independently. Notably, the Election Commission of India had given its approval for the registration on February 1 and asked it to put out ads in newspapers and wait for a 30-day period. It also happened to be the last day of filing nominations in Punjab which votes on February 20.

Given the development, the outfit has sought a common election symbol for all its 104 candidates. It submitted a representation with the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab for a common symbol, giving three preferences: cot, pot and scissors.

However, SSM leaders remained unfazed in view of the “immense public support” the outfit has gathered over the past two months since it was formed by senior farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal on December 25 last year. “We have seen the mood the of the people. They are very upbeat that we are contesting. We have no qualms in contesting as independent,” said Prem Singh Bhangu, screening committee member of the SSM. Rajewal, Bhangu and some other senior leaders had met the Election Commission twice in the last few weeks for registration of SSM. They had also sought tractor as its party symbol, signifying the more than a year-long farmers’ protest SSM members were a part of.

Meanwhile, Rajewal also filed his nomination papers as an Independent candidate from Samrala constituency of Ludhiana district.