PMK symbol issue: Supreme Court refuses to accept Ramadoss’ request
Tamil Nadu: The Chennai High Court has refused to accept PMK founder Ramdas’s request regarding the mango symbol.
On the Supreme Court’s instructions, Ramdas filed a case in the Chennai High Court regarding the mango symbol. In that petition, Anbumani was removed from his position as a basic member of the PMK. However, he submitted fake documents to the Election Commission claiming he was a PMK leader. He is not a PMK leader. Therefore, he should not be allotted the mango symbol in the upcoming assembly elections. He had demanded that the symbol be banned. The case came up for hearing on Thursday before Judge T.V. Tamilselvi. Ramdas argued that Anbumani was removed from the party’s basic membership for working against the party. Therefore, neither party wants the mango symbol. Both parties should contest the elections under a common symbol and see which one has the most influence. However, the Election Commission is attempting to allot the mango symbol to the Anbumani party. Therefore, it was argued that the symbol should be blocked.
The judge then interrupted, stating that the elections are just a few days away. Voters know that the PMK’s symbol is the mango. So, who would be affected by the suspension of that symbol now? he asked. Ramdas stated that the Anbumani party is contesting elections in only 18 constituencies. A request had been made to allow its candidates to use the mango symbol in other constituencies. The judge ordered that the Anbumani party be asked to comment on the matter.
At that point, Advocate Niranjan Rajagopal, representing the Election Commission, stated that the PMK is not a recognized party. It has lost its recognition. Therefore, the PMK is still a registered party. The mango is a public symbol. A case cannot be filed for its suspension. Previously, when the PMK was a recognized party, the mango symbol was allotted to the party. Therefore, the party has now been granted the same symbol on a concessional basis in some constituencies. Therefore, no claim to the symbol can be made. He also argued that in the current situation, the High Court cannot issue any order regarding the symbol. On the other hand, Anbumani stated that the civil court has ordered that Ramadoss can approach the Election Commission regarding the symbol. The petitioner is currently approaching various courts without going to the Election Commission. The process of filing nominations and considering petitions in Tamil Nadu has been completed. It was argued that the time for withdrawing nominations has also expired.
The judge then adjourned the hearing until Friday (April 10). At that time, Ramadoss requested that the Election Commission be ordered not to allot the mango symbol to Ambumani until then. The judge refused to accept the request and said that no order could be issued in this matter.
