The Tamil Maanila Congress on Thursday night accepted the offer of six constituencies from the AIADMK for the upcoming Assembly poll on April 6 hours after party president G K Vasan, flanked by senior leaders, expressed unhappiness over the AIADMK’s offer. The TMC had sought 12 seats from the AIADMK but will now contest on the ruling party’s ‘Two Leaves’ symbol.
The AIADMK, however, ceded to the TMC, the Lalgudi constituency for which it had announced a candidate, T. Rajaram, only on Wednesday. The other constituencies allotted to the TMC are Thiru Vi.Ka. Nagar (Reserved), Erode East, Pattukottai, Thoothukudi and Killiyur.
Mr. Vasan said the party will contest on the AIADMK’s ‘Two Leaves’ symbol as the demand for the ‘Cycle’ symbol is “sub-judice”.
Earlier in the day, he had said the party will fight till the last to get the ‘Cycle’ symbol. “In Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu is seeking that symbol, in Kashmir the Panther Party wants it and in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Mulayam Singh wants it. If we get the opportunity [to contest on the Cycle symbol] and someone files a case, there is a possibility that the victory of our candidates might be stopped,” he said.
“As far as AIADMK is concerned, it is the leader of the alliance.The CM and deputy CM have successfully run the government for 10 years. We want them to come back to power for the third time and are supporting them. When we tell them something, they will discuss and call us. That is the right way and TMC has always been known for following the alliance dharma,” Mr. Vasan had said in the morning, before agreeing to the deal offered by the AIADMK on Thursday night.
