Mon Nov 04 15:13:46 UTC 2024: ## BVA to Contest Maharashtra Assembly Elections with ‘Whistle’ Symbol
**MUMBAI, INDIA -** The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA), led by Hitendra Thakur, will be contesting the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections using the ‘whistle’ symbol, the Election Commission of India (ECI) informed the Bombay High Court on Monday.
This comes after the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), which was initially allotted the symbol, decided to not participate in the state elections and surrendered the ‘whistle’ symbol to the ECI.
The BVA had previously requested the ECI to allocate them the ‘whistle’ symbol in August, but their request was denied. However, following the JD(U)’s decision, the ECI has now confirmed that the symbol will be allotted to the BVA.
A division bench of Justices Somasekhar Sundaresan and Arif Doctor heard the BVA’s petition on Monday and, satisfied with the ECI’s explanation, disposed of the case. The BVA had filed the petition against the ECI after their initial request for the symbol was denied.
The JD(U) had been allocated the ‘whistle’ symbol by the ECI in January for both the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections. However, the party’s decision to not participate in the Maharashtra Assembly elections has paved the way for the BVA to utilize the symbol in the upcoming elections.
First Piper 