Don't want battery torch symbol, MGR Makkal Katchi tells EC

Chennai

MGR Makkal Katchi chief Viswanathan said “he requested ECI on November 24 to allot symbols that will remind the public of former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran like a rose flower, cap, rickshaw but it was given the battery torch symbol.

However, ECI has allotted battery torch symbol so I am interested to contest in the symbol.”

He demanded the ECI to allot symbols including the boatman, cap, rickshaw, cycle, belt, ship or coat that will remind the public of the stalwart MGR.

“In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the ECI had allotted the battery torch symbol to another party. The same party has been allotted battery torch symbol in Puducherry. “Also, there are possibilities for the party to win in Puducherry Union Territory with the help of MGR’s popularity,” he said, urging the ECI to allot a different symbol to MGR Makkal Katchi that will remind the public of MGR.

On Friday, the MNM said that it has moved Madras High Court seeking a direction to the EC to allot the battery torchlight to the party for the upcoming state assembly elections. The MNM party contested with battery torchlight symbol in the parliamentary elections in 2019 and the ECI has also allotted the torchlight symbol for the party to contest in the upcoming elections in Puducherry.

A delegation of MNM headed by its newly appointed general secretary (headquarters) Dr Santhosh Babu submitted a memorandum to the EC in New Delhi seeking allotment of the battery torch symbol to the party in Tamil Nadu as well.