Minor allies sulk in silence over election symbol issue

The minor allies when joining the alliance of the major parties, stand a bright chance to win in their constituencies. In such a situation, they, however, have to forego their symbol--if they have one, and may be forced to contest on the symbol of the alliance leader. While this may help them to poll more votes, they would later in the House be treated as the member of the major party, especially when a whip is issued.

In the upcoming April 18 elections too, the symbol issue has come into play for the junior parties in both the DMK and AIADMK alliances. Soon after the seat allotment this time, there were reports of smaller allies accusing the Dravidian majors of coercing them to contest in their symbols – ‘Two Leaves’ in the AIADMK front and ‘Rising Sun’ in the DMK alliance.

For instance, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan had contested under three different symbols before contesting on his own party’s symbol. In 1999, he had contested under the symbol of the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), under the DMK symbol in 2001, and the JD(U) in 2004. Since 2004, the party has contested under different independent symbols and has now returned to the DMK fold.

In an unusual decision, the VCK is contesting under two different party symbols in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. While Thirumavalavan will be contesting as an Independent in ‘pot’ symbol in Chidambaram constituency, his party general secretary Ravikumar will contest under the ‘rising sun’ symbol in Villupuram constituency.

Similarly, Parivendar from IJK, Eswaran from the Kongu Desiya Makkal Katchi and the MDMK nominee for Erode LS seat, Ganeshamurthy, are contesting under the ‘rising sun’ symbol. This is the first time that the MDMK is not contesting under its own symbol, as the party had lost its recognition.

In the AIADMK alliance, Puthiya Tamiligam leader Krishnasamy and Puthiya Needhi Katchi leader AC Shanmugam are contesting under the ‘two leaves’ symbol. This is the second time that the AIADMK has made those minor parties in its alliance to contest under its symbol. In 2016 Assembly polls, three minor parties, namely Mukkulathor Puli Padai, Kongu Ilaignar Peravai and Manidhaneya Jananayaga Katchi contested under the AIADMK’s symbol and emerged victorious.