EC hears 2 AIADMK factions staking claim to its poll symbol

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has frozen the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol of the AIADMK for the RK Nagar bypoll, following a fight over it between Tamil Nadu’s ruling party and the Panneerselvam faction that staked claim to it. The party headed by Sasikala had won a trust vote recently with majority of MLAs supporting it.

The EC order introduces fresh uncertainty on the outcome of the by-poll, caused by Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s death, which has created unusual interest with Jayalalithaa’s niece and her husband entering the fray. The BJP has fielded music director Gangai Amaran, who on Wednesday received the blessings of superstar Rajnikanth.

A multi-way split in AIADMK votes could make things favourable for the main Opposition, DMK. A defeat of the ruling party candidate, TTV Dinakaran, in the RK Nagar polls could see fresh political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu and even realignment of parties.

The commission order came late on Wednesday night after it heard both the camps. EC has asked the two sides to come up with new party names and party symbols by Thursday morning.

A final view will be taken later. Both factions have been permitted to keep a party name showing their linkage to the AIDMK, the EC order said.

"Neither of the two groups led by the petitioners (Shri E Madhusudhanan, Shri O Panneerselvam and Shri S Semmalai) and the respondents (Smt. V.K. Sasikala and Shri TTV Dhinakaran) shall be permitted to use the name of the party ‘All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Neither of the aforesaid two groups shall be permitted to use the symbol ‘Two Leaves’, reserved for ‘All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam" but both groups can if they do desire, show "linkage with their parent party".