EPS-OPS win AIADMK party symbol battle

The faction led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami (EPS) and his deputy O Panneerselvam (OPS) is the real AIADMK and is entitled to use the party symbol 'two leaves', the Election Commission ruled on Thursday. The order ends almost a year-long battle and deals a blow to the other group led by jailed VK Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dinakaran.

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

AIADMK is the only party whose symbol was frozen and restored twice.

Sasikala is currently serving a four-year sentence in a Bengaluru jail in a disproportionate assets case.

"The order proved that their faction was the real one and they have the support of the cadre," Panneerselvam said dedicating the EC order to Jayalalithaa.

CM Palanisami said that the EC has rendered justice to the AIADMK cadres by its order.

"The EC order has come as a bolt from blue to those who had attempted to ruin the party and bring down the government," he said taking a jibe at Sasikala's faction.

Dismissing allegations of BJP's support, he said that they got the symbol as they enjoyed the real support of the party cadres and the elected representatives.

After announcing victory at party's meeting even before EC's official declaration, Palanisami retracted his announcement blaming the media for misquoting.

"Chief Minister had expressed happiness over the 'two leaves' symbol verdict based on the information given by the media," an official release clarified.

However, Dhinakaran alleged that the EC did not give a fair decision and said that he will challenge the order in the Supreme Court.

"Even though the EC is an independent body it is headed by a former Gujarat chief secretary. It is obvious that the commission's decision is influenced by the Centre, which was backing Panneerselvam earlier and now supports Palanisami," he alleged.

The commission, in its order, noted that Jayalalithaa's niece J Deepa who also claimed the AIADMK's symbol was not even a primary member of the party.

After the demise of Jayalalithaa on December 5 last year, a power struggle had broken out between newly appointed party general secretary Sasikala and the then Chief Minister Panneerselvam.

Panneerselvam rebelled against Sasikala after the AIADMK legislature party unanimously elected her as its leader to replace him on February 5. But, the Supreme Court's order convicting Sasikala in the Jayalalithaa's disproportionate assets case prevented her from occupying the CM chair and she handpicked Palanisami for the job.

Panneerselvam, with the support of 11 MLAs, unsuccessfully voted against the trust motion moved by Palanisami in the state assembly.

The commission froze the symbol on March 22, disallowing its use in the RK Nagar by-election in Chennai. The decision came after the EC heard both sides, Panneerselvam and Sasikala factions, which staked their claim to the party symbol.

After cancellation of RK Nagar by-poll, Sasikala and Dinakaran found themselves sidelined in their own faction. Even as the dispute was pending with the Commission, OPS and EPS joined hand on August 21 and ousted Sasikala and Dinakaran from the party.

The Commission resumed the hearing on October 6, concluded it on November 8 and reserved its order. However, it could not meet the November 10 deadline set by the Supreme Court for deciding the dispute.