The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a new local mascot in Malda to promote voter awareness ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Named "Fajli Babu", the character draws inspiration from the region's well-known and famous Fajli mango, which is closely associated with Malda's identity.
A local symbol for voter awareness
'Fajli Babu' has been designed as a friendly and relatable figure to connect with residents at the grassroots level. In the visual shared by the poll body on social media platform Facebook, the mascot is seen holding a voter ID card while pointing towards an election symbol, reinforcing the importance of participating in the democratic process.
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The text in Bengali alongside the mascot translates to a message urging people to cast their votes on April 23. The awareness message has been issued by the district election office in Malda.
By choosing the 'Fajli mango' as the inspiration, the campaign ties voter awareness with a familiar cultural symbol. Malda is widely known for its mango varieties, and the Fajli mango in particular holds a strong association with the region. The mascot reflects this connection while aiming to make election messaging more accessible and engaging.
Encouraging participation in elections
The introduction of Fajli Babu is part of ongoing efforts to promote voter participation. Such initiatives often use simple visuals and local references to communicate key messages, especially in regional languages.
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Through this campaign, the focus remains on encouraging eligible voters to take part in the electoral process and exercise their right to vote. The Election Commission of India on March 15 announced that the West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in two phases, with polling scheduled on April 23 and April 29, 2026.
According to the announced schedule, the first phase will cover 152 Assembly constituencies, while the second phase will include 142 constituencies, completing polling for all 294 seats of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The counting of votes will be conducted on May 4, 2026, with the entire election process expected to be completed by May 6, 2026.
