Parties, small and big, vie for walls to promote symbols

Unlike the previous elections, the squabble for wall space is tighter this season due to the arrival of new parties like AMMK, Makkal Neethi Maiam, actor Rajinikanth.

“We are elated that our party has been given the pressure cooker symbol and this is a moral victory for our party and we have started putting up posters and graffiti taking our symbol to the voters,” said Chennai AMMK district secretary Santhana Krishnan.

Further, the political parties have time to put up posters only till the month of February. Once the model code comes into force, these graffiti and posters will be removed, he said.

“Joining the race, the BJP which usually stays away from the wall space fight is eager this time and has reserved the wall spaces of private buildings and government structures like culverts, bridges and compound walls,” said painter M Mani, who is slowly getting busy putting up political graffiti.

The political parties have also started looking out for venues to hold regional and district wise public meetings. The parties have also started sending their applications and queries to the election department related to the various kinds of permissions issued by the EC. The ruling AIADMK had booked the YMCA grounds in Royapettah for their maiden election meeting in Chennai. The DMK also plans to hold similar meetings on the same venue.

According to public election department sources, there is a sudden jump in the poll activities in the state though there are more than four months for the elections.