Goa Forward gets 'coconut' as poll symbol

Panaji, Oct 1: The Election Commission today allotted 'coconut' as the election symbol for Goa Forward party which is all set to contest the upcoming Assembly polls.

The symbol has been allotted under the provisions of para 10B of Election Symbols Order, 1968, the EC said in a communication to the Chief Electoral Officer of Goa.

Goa Forward president Prabhakar Timble said, "We have got a symbol which every Goan will be proud to identify with. It is the essence of Goa, Goans and Goan-ness." Timble said his party has always favoured declaring coconut tree as "state tree".

"Goa is known the world over as the land of swaying palms. It is unfortunate that the BJP government has relegated it to grass and removed the protection under the Trees Act. Now, this symbol and Goa Forward will puncture BJP," he added.

Earlier this year, the state government had reclassified coconut as 'palm', triggering strong reactions from the opposition.

PTI