Chennai: Allies, including MMK, will contest the forthcoming assembly election on DMK’s ‘rising sun’ symbol after Madras high court declined to grant an interim stay against the Election Commission of India‘s order, derecognising the party, sources said. It could significantly benefit DMK, which aims to form a govt with a simple majority amidst demands for power sharing from long-time allies.Election Commission of India (ECI) delisted 42 unrecognised parties in Sept last year for failing to participate in elections for six consecutive years. The list included MMK and KMDK. These parties previously contested and won three constituencies, including Papanasam, Manapparai, and Tiruchengodu, on the rising sun symbol. T Velmurugan’s Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi secured Panruti seat on ‘rising sun’ symbol after an unsuccessful attempt with a free symbol in 15 seats in 2016. “The allies, who earlier contested on DMK’s symbol, will be urged to do so again,” said a senior DMK leader. As per the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, a registered but unrecognised political party must field candidates in at least 5% of assembly constituencies, with a minimum of three constituencies in states with 40 or fewer seats, to be allotted a common symbol. DMK contested in 173 seats in 2021, with seven allies using ‘rising sun’ symbol in 15 seats. These allies included MDMK, MMK, KMDK, and Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi, and collectively won eight seats. In contrast, IUML, a long-time ally, insisted on contesting with its ‘ladder’ symbol, and lost all three seats it contested. Potential partners MMK and MJK, which informed DMK of their demands for five and two seats respectively, planned to challenge high court’s decision by approaching Supreme Court. “The HC verdict is only interim. The case has been posted in the second week of Mar. But that will be too late because the election process will start by then. We will appeal in the Supreme Court. Free symbol will be allotted only after the scrutiny of nominations and that may be late,” said MMK leader J H Jawahirullah. MJK Thamimun Ansari said his party, which provided support since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, faced a significant legal battle, and will inform DMK leadership during seat-sharing talks. Velmurugan, representing the influential vanniyar community, received feelers from “vanniyar groups” to consolidate the segment. The Panruti MLA, however, has not expressed reservations about contesting on DMK’s symbol, provided he was offered “a respectable position” in the alliance. EOM// MSID:: 128615359 413 |
