CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S Ramadoss on Friday condemned what he called the unauthorised use of the party’s Mango symbol at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) election campaign launch held in Madurantakam, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as his son and political rival Anbumani Ramadoss shared stage after signing a deal with the tie-up, which the senior considers not valid.

The PMK senior described it as a blatant abuse of power and a violation of Election Commission (EC) norms.

In a statement, Ramadoss said he was shocked by the display of the Mango symbol on the stage backdrop at the NDA event. He said the symbol representing the PMK, which he founded, is currently under dispute and awaits a final decision from the EC due to the ongoing leadership issue within the party.

He alleged that a faction led by Anbumani, aligned with former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami-led NDA in the State, had illegally authorised the use of the symbol despite it not being officially allotted by the Election Commission.

Displaying a disputed election symbol on a public stage amounted to a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct, he said.

Calling the incident an insult to democratic values, Ramadoss said such actions at an event attended by the Prime Minister undermined the dignity of the Prime Minister’s office and set a dangerous precedent. “The Mango symbol belongs to the cadre and volunteers of the PMK.

While no group has been officially granted this symbol, projecting it as the identity of a particular faction is a deliberate attempt to mislead the people of Tamil Nadu,” he said.

He pointed out that disputes relating to the party’s leadership and symbol are pending before the judiciary and the Election Commission. In this context, he urged the poll panel to take cognisance of the matter and initiate appropriate action against what he described as an unethical attempt to capture the party symbol through misuse of authority.