JOIN USThe Election Commission’s (EC) decision to freeze the two-leaf symbol of the AIADMK has brought cheer to the O Paneerselvam faction in its battle against the Sasikala camp, which is disappointed by the development.
Armed with the EC decision, the Paneerselvam faction has decided to go all out to defeat Sasikala’s nephew T T V Dinakaran who is contesting the byelection to R K Nagar Assembly seat to formalise his political debut.
The freezing of the two-leaf symbol, which is the most recognisable symbol for the voters, will force the Sasikala faction to be on the backfoot as it will have to seek votes in the name of new symbol “hat”.
Already, Dinakaran who filed his nomination papers for the bypoll on Thursday, has started wearing a hat, saying the election symbol represents the headgear worn by late M G Ramachandran, founder of the AIADMK, in his numerous roles in films.
The bypoll for the seat, which was necessitated by the death of Jayalalithaa, was seen as an opportunity by Dinakaran to firm up his position after the showdown between the two factions of the ruling AIADMK. Dinakaran was appointed as AIADMK deputy chief and treasurer by Sasikala before she went to jail to serve her term in the infamous disproportionate assets case. Not letting go the opportunity to prove it commanded more support among AIADMK cadres and voters, the Paneerselvam faction has fielded veteran AIADMK leader and presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan against Dinakaran.
Though this faction too will not be able to use the two-leaf symbol and must campaign with the new symbol “electricity pole”, Paneerselvam is counting on the stature of Madhusudhanan for an edge.
Dinakaran did not hide his disappointment when he said he did not expect the official AIADMK symbol would be frozen.