Chennai: The ECI’s recent allotment of the ‘microphone’ symbol to T R Paarivendar’s Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) has caused resentment among NTK cadres.NTK was allotted the ‘microphone’ symbol in 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the party had to popularize it across the state within a short span of time. Party cadres feel that allotting the symbol to another party could create confusion among voters, especially in rural areas.In May 2025, ECI allotted NTK a permanent symbol—‘farmer with plough’. However, NTK rank and file are upset that the symbol closely resembles the ‘farmer with sugarcane’ symbol of the Republican Party of India (Athawale).Though RPI (A) has insignificant presence in Tamil Nadu, the party had fielded candidates in 2021 polls and is expected to do so in the upcoming elections also. NTK functionaries said repeated changes in symbols over successive elections made campaign messaging more difficult.
