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Symbol the most effective tool to ensure victory shows history
In moving the Supreme Court to secure ‘Pressure Cooker’ symbol ahead of the Parliamentary elections, AMMK deputy general secretary TTV Dhinkaran has revived interest in the old political debate — “What’s big in electoral politics? Leaders or Symbols.”
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
History may have settled the debate even pundits across the political spectrum struggle to answer. Not regarding the shocking RK Nagar by-election victory, which gave him the maiden Assembly berth, trouncing the “Rising Sun” of the DMK and the “Two Leaves” of the AIADMK, Dhinakaran may also have been swayed by the illustrious past.
Even the mighty MGR, founder of AIADMK, had bit dust after his “Two Leaves” was allotted to an independent candidate by mistake in 1977. Despite MGR appealing to voters to endorse “Lion” (Alangiyam Balakrishnan), voters of Dharapuram Assembly constituency elected ‘independent’ Ayyasamy. Such was the popularity of “Two Leaves” that an independent turned MGR’s pick and trumped him.
DMK’s “Rising Sun” also has its fair share of history. In the watershed 1967 Assembly elections which put the Dravidian parties in power, Tamil Arasu Kazhagam leader and freedom fighter ‘Mylai’ Ponnusamy Sivagnanam, a vocal proponent of Tamil nationalism and opponent of Dravidianism, better known as Ma Po Si had successfully insisted on contesting in “Rising Sun” of DMK in T Nagar, and that too when “Star” symbol of his friend C Rajagopalachari’s Swatantra Party was readily available.
Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Si Pa Aditanar had also won in DMK symbol then, a decade later the same symbol was denied to DMK founder CN Annadurai and ‘Naavalar’ Nedunchezhian in the 1957 elections. Anna had contested in “Rooster” in Kancheepuram, the same symbol Jayalalithaa had later cherrypicked in 1989 when the AIADMK was split as Janaki (Twin pigeons) and Jayalalithaa (Rooster) faction after MGR’s demise.
In fact, the legacy of “Rising Sun” dates to the glorious days of Justice Party which had first depicted the symbol in a poster during the 1929 self-respect conference.
Like the “Two Leaves” which was ‘suspended’ twice in history, the “Rising Sun” had also faced threat in 1993, thanks to MDMK general secretary Vaiko, who, unlike MGR, had challenged the symbol before the Election Commission. Vaiko had to eventually settle for ‘Top’ after the former chief election commissioner TN Seshan had favoured Karunanidhi’s DMK.
However, not all breakaway factions had faced symbol crisis. The story of GK Moopanar’s Tamil Maanila Congress was a case in point. Moopanar was allotted ‘Bicycle’ though the party had asked for ‘Star’ following the split with Congress party. Moopanar called it the ‘Annamalai’ cycle to improvise the support offered by superstar Rajinikanth in 1996.
Ironically, symbols have also brought ideological nemesis together. Senior CPI leader D Pandian had won North Chennai in 1989 in Congress ‘Hand’ symbol.
In fact, symbols of major parties have also been the ticket to glory for newcomers. Dalit leaders Thol Thirumavalavan and Dr Krishnasamy had started their political journey only in other symbols. A rival of DMK, Dr Krishnasamy had contested in Rising Sun (DMK ticket) from Pollachi Lok Sabha segment in 1984.
Thirumavalavan had unsuccessfully contested in the cycle of TMC in 1999 Lok Sabha, but eventually opened his account as MLA in “Rising Sun” in 2001 from Mangalur. From once contesting in symbols of larger parties by choice, small parties and individual leaders were forced to contest as candidates of major parties of late.
U Thaniyarasu, Tamimum Ansari and Karunaas are still counted as AIADMK MLAs, courtesy Jayalalithaa who had made history fielding “Two Leaves” in all 234 seats in 2016 Assembly polls.
SYMBOLIC TIDBITS
- PMK was initially allotted ‘elephant’ symbol. Its first MLA Panruti Ramachandran rode to House on Elephant. The party was later allotted ‘Mango.’ It remains till date
- Vaiko was first given ‘Umberlla’. After recognition, his MDMK was allotted ‘Top’ symbol
- DMK MLA ‘Villivakkam’ Ranganathan of TMC Chidambaram faction),Vallal Peruman and VCK Thirumavalavan had successfully contested in DMK symbol
- SK Tamilarasan of RPI holds the record for contesting in three symbols, in “Rooster” and “Two leaves” of Jayalalitaha and “Cycle” of TMC once
- R Sarathkumar had also contested only in “Two Leaves”
- Sasikala led AIADMK was given ‘Hat’ and O Panneerselvam “Two Poles” when the “Two Leaves” was frozen during the rescinded RK Nagar bypoll
- TTV Dhinakaran was allotted “Cooker” symbol after the united ruling camp wrested control of “Two Leaves” symbol
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