A day after the launch of RK Nagar MLA TTV Dhinakaran’s party – the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, the AIADMK filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking a ban on the AMMK flag for being too similar to the ruling party’s. In addition to the ban of the new party flag, AIADMK also sought a compensation Rs 25 lakh from TTV Dhinakaran.
A petition was filed in the Madras High Court by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and joint coordinator of the AIADMK, Edappadi Palaniswami, stating, “TTV Dhinakaran’s party flag is in black, red, and white, just like the flag of AIADMK. According to the party laws, no other party may use a design similar to that of AIADMK. Thus, TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam should be banned from using the new flag.”
Arguing that the colours black, red and white were synonymous with the AIADMK, and it has been using the three colours since its inception in 1972, EPS points out that the flag of each party gives it a unique identity.
“The colours black, red and white by themselves have no significance. It is by consistent use of the same in the applicant/plaintiff’s activities over the decades that the applicant/plaintiff has given this combination an association with the party and its activities. In other words, it can be said that this unique flag and unique colour combination of black, red and white has acquired secondary meaning and goodwill among the people and voters,” states the petition.
Allowing the petition, Justive CV Karthikeyan directed Edappadi Palaniswami to issue notice of the suit in one Tamil newspaper and one English newspaper. The Justice also said that it would be a civil suit.
TTV Dhinakaran’s counsel also submitted a response to the petition on the same day, stating that there were differences between the two flags. It stated, “TTV Dhinakaran’s flag has 50 percent white colour, and 25 percent black and red colour each. AIADMK flag has 50 percent black and 50 percent red with an image of Anna in the middle.”
The response also stated that seven parties in Tamil Nadu, including the DMK, MDMK and DK bore black and red colours in their flags.
On March 15, TTV Dhinakaran launched his Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam in Madurai where he unveiled the party flag. The flag is in typical Dravidian colours of black, white and red with the image of Jayalalithaa in the centre. This is in contrast to AIADMK’s party flag that DMK founder Annadurai in the centre of its party flag, whose colours are also black, white and red.