The Bengal election commission has reserved a symbol for the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), providing a head start to Anit Thapa’s party in the panchayat polls at a time when most Opposition parties in the Darjeeling hills are inching towards forming a “grand alliance”.

Sources said the BGPM had been granted the two candles symbol. The advantage of a reserved symbol is that the party will have one symbol for all its candidates — unlike in the case of other unrecognised parties that may get multiple symbols. Moreover, the symbol is given at the beginning of the process, not at the fag end of nomination filing which can cause a scramble. A dedicated symbol helps a party’s candidate to get easily recognised during campaigning.

Thapa welcomed the poll panel’s decision.

A few months ago, the Ajoy Edwards-led Hamro Party (HP) had lodged a complaint with the state election commission when the BGPMhad applied for a reserved symbol.

The HP had argued that according to the West Bengal Panchayat Election Rules 2006, reserved symbols can only be allocated to “a recognised political party, local political party and any other political party” as specified by the state election commission by an order.

According to election rules, a local political party has to be engaged in political activity for a continuous period of five years at the time of seeking a reserved symbol, Edward had said.

The HP had pointed out that the BGPM had been formed on September 9, 2021.

On Saturday, Edwards said they had been assured by the commission that “a level playing field” would be provided in the hills.