AIADMK 'Two Leaves’ symbol row: We have the numbers, ruling faction tells Election Commission

CHENNAI: Arguments on the dispute over the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol and the name of the AIADMK continued on Monday before the full bench of the Election Commission in New Delhi, wherein the ruling faction contended that a majority of office bearers were on their side. 

The T T V Dhinakaran faction raised suspicions over the affidavits filed the ruling faction led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, saying around 300 of them had variance in signatures as compared to their earlier affidavits. 

Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, who was also present during the hearing, told mediapersons later that the Dhinakaran faction was conspiring to freeze the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol. After more than three hours of hearing, the EC posted the next hearing for October 30. According to the Supreme Court’s directions, the Commission has to give its ruling by November 10.

While senior counsel C S Vaidyanathan and others put forth their views on behalf of the ruling faction of the AIADMK, Abhishek Singhvi argued on behalf of the Dhinakaran faction. The ruling faction reiterated that 1,877 general council members of the party, who participated in the meeting, had signed the affidavits and the entire proceedings were videographed. Sasikala was not appointed as per constitution of the party and so her orders appointing Dhinakaran would not stand muster.

“Neither Sasikala not Dhinakaran can claim the leadership of the party, and so they cannot stake a claim to the symbol too,” counsel Vaidyanathan said and added that the EC should keep aside those affidavits that were allegedly forged and decide the case on the basis of other affidavits. 

The AIADMK ruling faction also argued that Sasikala was re-admitted into the party by the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, only with the promise that she would not involve in affairs of the party. Further, all affidavits were filed with the supporting documents such as Aadhaar Card, voter ID, driving licence etc.

Dhinakaran camp counsel Mathur submitted that around 325 affidavits filed in support of the EPS-OPS faction had variance in signature from earlier affidavits. A Naveneethakrishnan, arguing for the Dhinakaran faction, said that the AIADMK constitution did not have any scope for the posts of coordinator and joint coordinator and only general secretary could lead the party.