Symbol may not help ruling camp, says Maya Thevar

Describing both the leaders, EPS and OPS, as weak and submissive, Maya Thevar said the symbol that was associated with charismatic and commanding leaders like MGR and Jayalalithaa would not be identified with the present leaders. He also predicted that both the leaders would mortgage the party and symbol to the BJP. 

The 83-year-old veteran leader, who is no more active in politics, in a rare interview to a Tamil magazine, recalled the day when he chose “Two Leaves’ symbol from a list given by the then Madurai Collector Syria in 1973. 

Attributing the maiden victory of the party in the Dindigul LS by-poll to the popularity of Makkal Thilagam MGR and the strong resentment against the then DMK government, he said the party could be revived if the symbol had gone to side-lined AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran, as he appeared to be a bold and intelligent leader capable of guiding the cadre and impressing the people. Maya Thevar, who was practising in Supreme Court, was identified as the ADMK candidate for the Dindigul bypoll, the first election contested by the MGR’s party faced within a year of its inception. He also won the elections in 1977 and 1980 from the same seat. 

The party created history by winning the first election it faced and subsequently, MGR had a smooth journey to St George Fort in the 1977 Assembly elections.