In politics, surpassing a party in its campaign is becoming increasingly popular. Even now, despite the demise of AIADMK party founder M.G. Ramachandran, it is evident that we will compete with AIADMK only in the minor leaf segment, as former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam stated, and the Election Commission has been censured for recommending not to allocate the dual leaf symbol to AIADMK. By dismissing the AIADMK candidate who adopted the dual leaf symbol, MGR not only broke the leaf but also realised that the leaf itself symbolises the power of the party!
AIADMK, initiated by MGR in 1972, won the elections in the Thindukkal District Assembly in 1973 and in the Coimbatore East Legislative Assembly in 1974, using the dual leaf symbol. MGR, by indicating two fingers to denote the party’s symbol, attracted attention and campaigned vigorously, embedding the dual leaf deeply in the hearts of the people.
In the beginning of 1977, MGR contested the State Legislative Assembly elections. In the constituencies where AIADMK candidates contested in Tamil Nadu, the party’s candidates adopted the dual leaf symbol.
As MGR campaigned, he deliberately campaigned against adopting the dual leaf symbol in a constituency. This was in the Tirupur District constituency. It was in the Tirupur constituency that MGR informed me that Ayasami would contest as an AIADMK candidate.
To support Ayasami in the campaign, in the direction of weakening the opposition, the AIADMK sent petitions for nomination to him in the party’s favour, and Ayasami was also nominated as an AIADMK candidate.
However, due to criticisms from within the party about him, ultimately, MGR informed Balakrishnan, who appeared as a candidate in response, as the candidate.
Nevertheless, despite manoeuvring the power-centric nominations within the party, Ayasami secured the dual-leaf symbol. Balakrishnan received the lion symbol in return. During the election campaign, MGR campaigned for Balakrishnan with the lion symbol.
However, even surpassing that, the people voted for the dual leaf. 2500 more votes were cast for Ayasami, who contested in the dual-leaf symbol than the Congress candidate who came in second.
With MGR’s support, the winner, Ayasami, moved to the third position with the lion symbol. Tamil Nadu realised that the leaf’s symbol wielded more power in the minds of the people than a party itself. That’s why parties are now fighting to strengthen their symbols more than their parties!