Countering charges that the Election Commission of India’s decision to award the name and symbol of AIADMK to the ruling faction was influenced by the BJP-led central government, AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam and co-coordinator Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday said they had won the case based on merits.

Answering a question at a press conference here, Mr. Panneerselvam, who is the Deputy Chief Minister, denied allegations, made by dissident leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran that the AIADMK’s proximity to the BJP had resulted in a favourable decision. “No one is behind or in front of us. The Election Commission, not T.T.V. Dhinakaran, gave this ruling. It was based on the facts before it,” he said.

Chief Minister Palaniswami, who jointly addressed journalists, said that Mr. Dhinakaran is persona non grata to the AIADMK. “The Election Commission has reinstated the office-bearers as on December 5, 2016. On that date, Mr. Dhinakaran was not even an AIADMK member,” he said.

Senior Ministers and various AIADMK leaders were present at the gathering where Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar read out a two-page joint statement signed by Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Panneerselvam. The statement said that the EC’s decision had proved that the party formed by the merger of the Palaniswami and Panneerselvam factions was the legitimate AIADMK. “Inspired by Amma (Jayalalithaa), we will build this party together without differentiating between cadre and leaders,” said the statement adding that they were dedicating this victory to Jayalalithaa’s memory.

Jumping the gun

Earlier in the day, after a meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at a hotel here, the Chief Minister told journalists, “I am very happy that the EC has given a good and fair decision. Our side had more supporters and legislators…We did not win because of the BJP, we did so because our arguments were better. We provided sufficient evidence. 90% of the party cadre were with us.”

Mr. Palaniswami, who refused to respond to questions on the ‘two leaves’ symbol during his joint press conference with Mr. Gadkari, waited for the BJP leader to conclude his interaction before talking about the EC’s decision. However, it turned out that he had jumped the gun: the EC was yet to announce its decision (at that point). The Chief Minister, in a written statement, later disowned his comments. He said that he was merely responding to reporters’ questions.