IN CHIDAMBARAM, THIRUMA HOPES TO COOK VICTORY IN POT

WHEN the voice from the campaign van of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi asks, "Namathu chinnam" (our symbol), the crowd, including children, screams in response, "Paanai chinnam" (pot symbol).

- KRITHIKA SRINIVASAN

WHEN the voice from the campaign van of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi asks, "Namathu chinnam" (our symbol), the crowd, including children, screams in response, "Paanai chinnam" (pot symbol). The voice frames the same question in many modulations and the crowd's fervour increases every time they respond. This goes on for a minute.

This enthusiastic exchange in the heartland of Chidambaram during the campaign of VCK president and INDIA bloc leader Thol Thirumavalavan is indicative of the party symbol's popularity.

When he first contested in the symbol from the reserved constituency of Chidambaram in 2019, Thiruma managed to win by a hair's breadth in a bitterly fought campaign against the AIADMK-PMK alliance. His margin of 0.28% (3,219 votes) was the lowest in the election. In 2021 assembly polls, his party has managed to win four constituencies with the same symbol.

This time, VCK is hopeful of winning with a comfortable margin, owing to the strong backing of DMK, increased popularity of the symbol, and as AIADMK and PMK are in different camps with the latter backing the BJP.