Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) has been allotted the “battery torch” symbol by the Election Commission for the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, party chief Kamal Haasan said. “We have been allotted torchlight symbol for all the 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu,” he said in a video message on his twitter handle. Assembly elections are likely to be held during April-May in the state.
Thanking the Election Commission of India and those who supported the party to get back the symbol, he said, “Let the light spread!”. MNM contested on the symbol of torchlight in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and garnered a vote share of 3.77 per cent. The party had last month said it was “denied” the torch symbol for 2021 assembly polls by the poll body though the party got it for contesting elections in neighbouring Puducherry. The ECI had recently allotted the torch light symbol to a lesser known party in Tamil Nadu named MGR Makkal Katchi. However, subsequently, the MGR Makkal Katchi surrendered the symbol while the MNM approached the commission and also approached the Madras high court to direct the ECI to allot the battery torch symbol to it.
