AIADMK symbol row: Election Commission postpones leaf symbol case to October 13

The Election Commission on Friday heard the arguments from the petitioners in the AIADMK coveted two leaf symbol case here in the national capital.

The hearing started at 4 pm and lasted till around 6:30 pm after which the Election Commission announced that the respondents arguments will be heard on October 13, 2017 at 4 pm.

"We have put forward all the documents and affidavits as asked by the EC and we are confident of our victory", said TN Law Minister CV Shanmugham.

The Edapadi K Palaniswami and O Paneerselvam, commonly known as the EPS-OPS camp was represented by a number of people in the national capital today including Deputy CM OPS himself.

Other representatives included Law Minister CV Shanmugham, Fisheries Minister Jayakumar, Dr. V Maitreyen, Manoj Pandian and KP Munnuswamy along with a few MLAs and party leaders. While the TTV camp had only two lawyers representing them.

"We requested the EC to grant us a week's time so that we can submit all the documents and affidavits related to the case. We also asked to cross examine and verify documents and affidavits", said Raja Senthoor Pandian, lawyer of the TTV Dhinakaran camp.

Today's hearing involved hearing out the petitioners in the case, OPS and Madhusudan, who is an MLA from the OPS camp. The argument put forward was that TTV Dhinakaran was not a primary member of the AIADMK on the December 5, 2016 and that he and Sasikala have criminal records.

Prominent lawyer Mukul Rohatgi is fighting the case for the EPS camp. Even though EPS and OPS have joined hands and are fighting for the symbol together, it is important to note that the two leaf symbol is the identity of the AIADMK and this symbol is attached to the former CM Late J Jayalalithaa.

As of now, only OPS and Madhusudan are fighting for it. Mukul Rohatgi argued on behalf of EPS that EPS should be the party to get the two leaf symbol back.

Rohatgi also argued that Dhinakaran is doing nothing but buying time to delay the EC hearing which is why he went to the high court and later Supreme Court. He also added that the EC should not take into consideration the affidavits of the 18 disqualified MLAs.

While EPS-OPS camp claims to enjoy the support of 42 MPs, 116 MLAs and around 2000 General Council Members, the TTV camp has 18 disqualified MLAs and 6 MPs.

Earlier, there were three claimants to the coveted two leaf symbol. Along with these two parties, Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar was also staking claim. However, today her representative stated that Deepa has withdrawn her petition in the two leaf symbol case.