TIRUCHY: Over the past few days, residents of the district received an IVR or pre-recorded call from MDMK principal secretary Durai Vaiko in which he identified himself as the DMK-led alliance’s candidate for Tiruchy constituency and sought votes for his ‘matchbox’ symbol in the general election.
A few days prior to him taking to this mode of canvassing, a video clip began to do the rounds on social media featuring a man, believed to be in his 50s. In the clip, the man was asked of his opinion on the parliamentary election to which he replied that he is going to vote for the ‘rising sun’ symbol.
He went on to justify his choice by mentioning that the monthly honorarium being provided for women by the DMK regime met the medical expenses of his wife. The person recording the video then informed him that the DMK alliance was contesting under the ‘matchbox’ symbol in Tiruchy. The man replied that he became aware of it only then.
Elsewhere, in Chidambaram constituency, the DMK alliance campaigners arranged for a load vehicle carrying a gigantic ‘pot’, which is candidate and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan’s poll symbol to be driven around to popularise it. Here too, the ‘pot’ has to take on the more popular ‘two leaves’ of the AIADMK.
With hardly hours left for candidates to canvass for votes, and limitations in place like a ban in urban areas to promote via graffiti and posters, parties, particularly the DMK alliance, has had a tough time reaching their candidate and their poll symbol to the entire electorate in Tiruchy and Chidambaram constituencies. Parties also urge the election commission to consider such limitations they faced and address them at least for the elections after the one on April 19.
Viduthalai Arasu, an activist from Srirangam, said, “If graffiti is allowed in villages, why not permit it in urban areas? The election commission can allow it on private walls in urban areas. It can impose conditions like getting permission of the owners, like in rural areas. The election commission itself can erect boards displaying the list of candidates and their respective symbols in city pockets. In a way, this would increase voter turnout. How can a half-informed voter take a good decision?”
MDMK treasurer M Senthilathiban said, “The election commission has been unfair from the beginning. Taking the symbol to the electorate by physical means is a herculean task. Ours is a strong alliance with many parties and hence we are canvassing door-to-door. The commission has to ensure a balanced contest, but instead it is making the process more difficult with its rules.”
Echoing Arasu, Senthilathiban said, “If the commission is really concerned about free and fair elections, it can allow wall posters, displaying candidate names and their respective symbols at all PDS shops and government offices in every constituency. It should be the election commission’s duty to ensure the electorate is fully informed before polling. Only then will it lead to a healthy democracy.”