- Cow. Vijayanand
- BBC Tamil
Image source, @Anbil_Mahesh
Rumors have begun to rise within the DMK alliance over the allocation of seats in the urban local government elections. `Only a few parties, including the Congress, are given prominence. Smaller parties are being forced to compete under the rising sun symbol. As a result, the volunteers are in great distress, ‘said MDMK officials. whats going on?
Urban local body elections are scheduled to be held in Tamil Nadu on February 19. In this connection, the DMK and AIADMK are in talks with their allies. The BJP has announced that it will stand alone as there is no alliance agreement with the AIADMK.
Why DMK, MDMK friction?
At the same time, executives of its allies have complained that the DMK has not been properly allocated seats in the coalition. In particular, there have been openly dissenting talks in the MDMK camp. Negotiations between the DMK and MDMK in several districts have not reached a conclusion. In this connection, the Chief Minister MK Stalin met the Secretary General of the MDMK Durai Vaiko on the evening of the 31st.
In this connection, in an interview with the MDMK leadership, MDMK General Secretary Durai Vaiko said, “Negotiations have gone smoothly in six districts, including Madurai and Dindigul. In some places the coalition parties are asking for the same wards. Negotiations are underway to reach an agreement. The problem also arises when half the seats are reserved for women. Each district has a minimum expectation. We are optimistic, ”he said.
Image source, TN ELECTION COMMISSION
What is happening in Ramanathapuram?
“What’s going on?” We spoke to an MDMK executive on behalf of BBC Tamil. “In many districts, DMK executives are retaliating against the coalition parties. The DMK has not allotted a single seat in the Ramanathapuram, Kamudi, Mudukulathur and Lower Coast municipalities. In the case of Paramakudi, we won 2 seats in the last local body election. There are 33 wards. There, 2 seats have been allotted to the MDMK and 2 seats each to the CPM and CPM parties. But, we asked for 3 wards there.
Image source, @KNavaskani
We also asked for 3 wards in Ramanathapuram municipality. Not assigned to us. In the same municipality 5 seats have been allotted to the Congress party. In many districts, seats have been allotted to the Congress party. It seems that the DMK is in the mood of “no small parties”.
He continued, “The DMK is under us as far as Rameswaram municipality is concerned. They are reluctant to even give a ward there. We stood for chairman in the last urban local government. The DMK came next to us in that election. The Marxist Communist Party and the Communist Party of India did not get what they asked for.
Is the rising sun a symbol? தனிச்சின்னமா?
Image source, @drtharun
On the 31st, the Ramanathapuram DMK district secretary gave 3 wards and signed contracts for only 2 seats. When asked about this, they said, `You can win by standing on the rising sun symbol in one place ‘. `This is not going to happen. Can’t we stand alone instead of standing on the rising sun symbol? ‘ We questioned. Then one way the contract was signed.
They were also asked to stand on the rising sun symbol in the lower municipality. The same has been said to the executives of the Muslim League and the VCK. We have brought this to the attention of the leadership. ”
When BBC Tamil asked Ramanathapuram district MDMK secretary Patrick, “Are the DMK executives forcing the MDMK?” The reason we are leaving the opportunity is because there should not be any problems in the alliance, ”he said.
“It simply came to our notice then. We are deeply saddened by the lack of space in municipalities like Ramanathapuram, Kamudi, Mudukulathur and Lower Coast. We are walking under the guidance of the leadership. We will contest under the MDMK symbol. There is anguish among the volunteers that the party does not have a place to grow. ”
What is the experience of the coalition parties?
Image source, @DMKCuddalore
Following this, we spoke on behalf of BBC Tamil to A. Gopanna, Head of the Media Section of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, to inquire about the state of the Congress Party. “Negotiations in the DMK alliance are going smoothly. Not yet finalized.
So far, the district leaders of our party, in consultation with the DMK district secretaries, have signed in 25 districts. In some places they do not allocate the places we ask for. We could not stand where they say. There will be a social result soon, ”he said.
“The problem is only in a few places across the state. No big deal. Negotiations are continuing, ”said Selva, CPM district secretary in central Chennai.
Echoing the same sentiment, CPM Undersecretary of State Veerapandian said, “Problems persist in some places and smoothly in others. We hope the talks will end well. ”
Thirumavalavane speaks directly
Speaking to BBC Tamil on behalf of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Under Secretary of State Vanni Arasu asked, “Are you being forced to stand on the Udayasooriyan symbol?” The leader of our party has said that we should stand for a separate symbol. We will compete in a unique way to show our uniqueness. ”
“Our party executives are talking to the DMK district secretaries. Our leader talks to the DMK district secretary and the minister about everything where it is needed. We have written down the places where there is a chance of success. Some of them accept space. Some ask them to stand up for themselves. In it we compete where it suits us. We are determined to be strong in the local body, ”he said.
The decision can only be made by the environment
We asked V. Kannadasan, the DMK’s Joint Secretary for Legal Affairs, “Is the DMK allegedly forcing the coalition parties to contest under the Udayasuriya symbol?” “The decision can only be made based on the field conditions in the districts. The district administration decides who will win where and which symbol will be better, ”he said.
Speaking further, Kannadasan said, “The MDMK leaders have been without representation for many years. They stood with us in the 2019 parliamentary elections. They got a place. MDMK general secretary Vaiko was also elected to the Rajya Sabha. In the 2021 assembly elections, the MDMK leaders have the opportunity to claim that they are the representatives of the MDMK, even though they have four seats in the Udayasuriya symbol. Coalition is all about making smart decisions. There is no difference between big party and small party. The DMK has no such intention. ”
He added, “They share seats according to their influence in the districts. In that sense, the Humanitarian People’s Party has a seat in Tambaram. Places are allocated using everyone equally. Even if negotiations continue, all can be withdrawn after the seats are finalized, even after the nominations have been filed. There are no difficulties in that. ”
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