MDMK to contest as independent in Erode constituency

In a statement issued here, Vaiko made it clear that the MDMK an ally in the DMK front would be contesting from Erode LS constituency and the party candidate Ganesa Moorthy would contest under the symbol that would be allotted by the EC.

MDMK is one of the several unrecognised parties in the DMK alliance that will be contesting in the independent symbol.

During the alliance talks, DMK appealed to its allies to contest in the ‘Rising Sun’ symbol. VCK, Kongu Makkal Desiya Katchi and IJK agreed to the DMK’s offer and announced that their candidates would contest in the ‘Rising Sun’ symbol. Though VCK general secretary Ravi Kumar would be contesting in the DMK symbol, the party founder Thol Thirumavalavan would contest in the independent ‘Pot’ symbol allotted by the Election Commission, in Chidambaram constituency.

It was expected that MDMK, which was allotted the Erode Lok Sabha constituency, would also heed Stalin’s appeal and contest in DMK’s symbol. However, on Thursday, Vaiko announced that the party would contest in an independent symbol that would be allotted by the Election Commission.

According to party sources, the party would seek three symbols and would submit a list to the election officer in Erode. “It is up to the election officer to decide on the symbol. Whatever be the symbol, the party will happily accept and go to the people seeking their mandate,” said sources.