AIADMK symbol verdict: Don't write off the Mannargudi family, says political analyst

On Thursday, the Election Commission put an end to almost an year-long dispute between warring factions by allotting the AIADMK's "two leaves" symbol to the Panneerselvam-Palaniswami combine, holding that it enjoyed majority in the party's legislative and organisational wings.

While the AIADMK EPS-OPS faction welcomed the Election Commission's decision on giving them the symbol, the TTV Dinakaran faction has questioned the fairness with which the symbol was allowed.

The EC in its order said, "The petitioners group led by E. Madhusudhanan, O. Panneerselvam and S. Semmalai, and also supported presently by the impleading applicant E.K. Palaniswami, the present Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, enjoys support of majority members in the legislative and organisational wings."

TTV Dinakaran said, "Election Commission did not function in independent manner. We will approach Supreme Court. EC was determined to freeze the two leaves symbol. EC has acted as per the wishes of the central govt."

Soon after walking out of the Sasikala led AIADMK on March 16, 2917, O. Panneerselvam claimed that the AIADMK led by Sasikala is not the real AIADMK. He also claimed that the symbol, the party flag etc should be given to the real AIADMK, which OPS claimed was with him and filed a petition. 

On March 22, the symbol was frozen by the Election Commission.

In the last few months, the drama that was staged in Tamil Nadu saw "brothers" (OPS-EPS) accusing one another and later joining hands and also of some being sidelined as well.

Soon after the demise of Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK saw three splits, which now finally has come down to two - EPS-OPS faction and Sasikala - TTV Dinakaran faction.

As the political infighting intensified, the two factions have been desperate to prove themselves to be Jaya's heir, and the two leaves symbol case has had a lot of importance in this journey.

The RK Nagar by-polls are to be held before December 31 and this decision of the EC will have a huge impact, according to political analyst, T S Sudhir. As this might be the case, Sudhir also adds that this does not mean end game for TTV faction.

"Dont write off the Mannargudi family. They may not enjoy too much goodwill with the man on the street but Sasikala knows a thing or two about the psyche of the AIADMK party worker. And since EPS and OPS arent too popular themselves and the Thevar community backing to an extent, Dhinkaran would hold his own," said T S Sudhir.

He further added, "It is a bumpy road for TTV but certainly not the end of the road for him."

Not accepting this order as a set back, the TTV faction spokesperson Apsara Reddy said, "There are ups and lows for every political party, and this is not a set back. Just like how MGR and Amma succeeded, we will too. It is the political leader who matters and TTV has the support of the masses."