At a time when LPG shortages and supply disruptions are making headlines, the ‘cylinder’ has moved beyond kitchens and into the political arena, resonating with voters already feeling the pinch at home. In Salem West, PMK MLA R Arul, who had earlier maintained that the Ramadoss faction would secure the party’s ‘mango’ symbol, found himself contesting under a different banner after a symbol switch. Allotted the ‘cylinder’ by the ECI, he chose to turn the moment into a visual campaign pitch. In a striking gesture, Arul was seen carrying a cylinder on his head while canvassing, drawing attention. The act underscored both the changing political equations within PMK and the anxieties around fuel access, blending symbolism with street-level messaging in a campaign moment.
- Sneha Sivashanmugam
As voices shrink to five
Activist group Arappor Iyakkam on Friday questioned the police after it was denied permission to hold a 50-member awareness rally in Chennai. The group, which has been running the campaign ‘My vote is not for sale’, said it had sought approval for a march in Ambedkar Nagar between 4 pm and 6 pm. However, police cited law & order concerns and restricted participation to five persons. Questioning the move, the activists said such drives are expected of the ECI, yet even a small rally was curtailed. “If only five people walk, can it be called a rally?” they asked. The group said it would proceed with the five-member march while continuing its anti cash-for-votes campaign. They sought clarity on why efforts discouraging inducements during polls were not being facilitated by authorities
- S Kumaresan