Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) informed the Bombay High Court that the 'whistle' symbol will be allocated to the Hitendra Thakur-led Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, adhering to the necessary guidelines.

Earlier this year, in January, the ECI had allotted the same symbol to the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)).

A BVA candidate had previously contested the 2024 general elections from Maharashtra's Palghar Lok Sabha seat using the 'whistle' symbol, as the JD(U) did not field a candidate for that election. 

During the hearing, a division bench comprising Justices Somasekhar Sundaresan and Arif Doctor listened to the BVA's petition for the symbol. The ECI presented a letter from the JD(U) indicating its decision not to contest the Maharashtra assembly elections scheduled for November 20, which effectively meant surrendering the 'whistle' symbol that had been allocated to them under an order dated January 30, 2024. 

The ECI confirmed that, given the BVA's application for the 'whistle' symbol, it would be assigned to the party in accordance with the established procedures and guidelines. Following the ECI's statement, the bench disposed of the BVA's petition.