Party symbol matters little: Sellur K Raju

Replying to a question on why the ruling party is not willing to conduct the local body elections as soon as possible and whether the loss of party symbol has anything to do with it, Raju shot back, “In the present instant world of social media, I receive my picture of garlanding Kamarajar on my WhatsApp, even before I board my car after the act. Things happen on the go now-a-days. In such an era of social media presence, party symbols have very less significance.” 

“Though we attach a lot of respect and loyalty to the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol, which was given by former chief minister MG Ramachandran and carried forward by the late J Jayalalithaa, it does not mean that we fear the loss of the symbol or give way too much importance to it,” he added. 

On local body elections, Raju said, “We will act according to the guidance of the High Court as far as the civic polls are concerned.” 

When asked about the prices of vegetables skyrocketing, Raju contradicted the stand of state government by claiming that the state had witnessed severe drought, unseen in 140 years, last year and so the prices of the vegetables had skyrocketed. “However, through the 79 Farm Fresh Outlets, run by the government departments, the prices of the essential vegetables are kept under control,” the Minister added.