Chennai: MMK leader M H Jawahirullah on Saturday publicly demanded that its principal ally DMK allocate five seats for the party in the upcoming assembly election, an increase from two seats offered in 2021.MMK had previously contested and won the 2021 assembly election on DMK’s ‘rising sun’ symbol in the Papanasam and Manamadurai assembly segments. “We want DMK to allocate five seats to MMK. Also, adequate representation of Muslims should be included in the candidate list of DMK, Congress and VCK,” Jawahirullah said. Against the backdrop of perceived ‘disturbances’ in DMK alliance, Jawahirullah affirmed his party’s commitment to continuing in DMK alliance, with which it has been associated since 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
In 2021, Jawahirullah and Abdul Samad of MMK were among the 13 alliance candidates who contested using DMK symbol. MMK is currently ‘uncertain’ about contesting on the DMK’s symbol due to its petition in the Madras high court, challenging its delisting by Election Commission for not contesting on its own symbol for six years. The EC had delisted 42 parties in Tamil Nadu, including MMK. Other minor partners, such as T Velmurugan of Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, besides key allies like VCK and Left parties, are also pushing for a higher number of seats in DMK alliance. “We are asking for more seats based on our grassroots-level strength and the value we bring to the alliance,” Jawahirullah said. He expressed confidence in a massive victory for DMK-led front and dismissed TVK as a “media-blown balloon”, saying it had no real impact on the ground and that the forthcoming election would bust the myth.
