Tamil Nadu - Vellore   

`Velus' everywhere in Arakkonam

By P.V.V. Murthi

VELLORE, APRIL 27. The Arakkonam parliamentary constituency, which has the largest number of 20 candidates among the four constituencies in Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts, has five candidates by the name of Velu.

While R. Velu is the Pattali Makkal Katchi candidate, G.S. Velu, S. Velu, K. Velu and M. Velu are contesting as Independents. But how so many `Velus'.

T.A. Mohammed Saqhy, Vellore district Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam presidium chairman, told presspersons on Saturday, the day of scrutiny, that this was the "strategy" of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to defeat the PMK candidate, confusing voters by inducting many `Velus' into the contest. This was denied by AIADMK sources who said the voters could not be fooled. The Democratic Progressive Alliance also says the same thing. Discerning and decided voters know whom to vote, they say.

While R. Velu (PMK) has been allotted the mango symbol, G.S. Velu has been given the candle symbol, S. Velu balloon, K. Velu coconut and M. Velu shuttlecock.

Similarly, there are three `Shanmugams' in the same constituency. While N. Shanmugam is the AIADMK candidate vested with the `two leaves' symbol, there is another N. Shanmugam (Independent) allotted the carrot symbol. S. Shanmugam has been given maize. Whose strategy is this? Nobody has said anything about it.

Names with phonetic resemblance are found among candidates in the Vellore constituency. K.M. Khader Mohideen is the DMK candidate. He has been allotted the `rising sun' symbol. The constituency also has two namesakes, whose first name is the same as that of the DMK candidate. They are A. Khader Basha (Ind) given the cap symbol, and M.Z. Khader Basha (Ind) vested with the ceiling fan symbol. Besides, there is M. Kadhar Sherif (Ind) given the cake symbol.

Similarly, the Tirupattur constituency with 16 candidates has three Venugopals. While D. Venugopal is the DMK candidate allotted the `rising sun' symbol, the other two namesakes are G. Venugopal (Ind) vested with the cricket bat symbol and P. Venugopal with the ring symbol. The Vandavasi constituency is not without this phenomenon or `strategy'. While R. Rajalakshmi is the AIADMK candidate, vested with the `two leaves' symbol, also in the contest is an Independent candidate, Rajalakshmi, given the aeroplane symbol.

The uniform pattern seen in the liberal sprinkling of namesakes is that they are found only for the candidates of recognised parties.

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