DMK compares '2 leaves' symbol on Chennai buses to BSP's elephant statues

Mango

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posted on 11 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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The DMK and AIADMK had clashed 2 years ago also over the issue of the symbol of 'Two leaves' at the renovated MGR memorial.

Chennai: The DMK and the AIADMK are sparring over the symbol of 'Two leaves' on the new mini buses, which Chief Minister J Jayalalitha inaugurated on October 23. The DMK has now sent an official complaint to the Chief election commissioner in Delhi.

The letter exhorts the CEC to take action against AIADMK; like it did during Mayawati's regime in UP and states, "Earlier the Election Commission had issued orders to cover all elephant statues erected by the Bahujan Samaj Party government in the state of Uttar Pradesh, during elections, because the elephant is a symbol of Bahujan Samaj Party. But unlike statues buses are highly mobile and can become propaganda units by themselves." The party objected to such 'propaganda' ahead of the Yercaud by-polls in the state.

The 50 light green buses, started to provide last mile connectivity, ran into controversy after the DMK took objection to the two sets of '2 leaves' symbol on the sides of the buses. 'Two leaves' is the party symbol of the ruling AIADMK. DMK MLAs raised the issue in the Tamil Nadu assembly on October 25. In the resultant chaos, Tamil Nadu speaker P Dhanapal suspended all DMK MLAs for the day. On Monday too, DMK MLAs were suspended for the day after they raised the issue once again in the House.

The DMK has objected to the symbols painted on the sides of the buses saying it is a misuse of government machinery for propaganda of the party. DMK's legal cell also sent a notice to Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, Transport Minister Senthil Balaji and 3 others asking for the symbols to be removed. The DMK has threatened legal action in case corrective measures are not taken.

In a response to the allegations by the DMK, the Tamil Nadu transport department on Monday issued a statement saying that the two sets of leaves were not a symbol of AIDMK as understood by the rivals. The leaves were merely drawn as a symbol of greenery and to make the buses look more appealing and soothing to commuters'eyes.

The DMK and AIADMK had clashed two years ago also over the issue of the symbol of 'Two leaves' at the renovated MGR memorial. The AIADMK government had then told court that the alleged leaves were actually wings of the flying horse Pegasus.