Gives us back two-leaf symbol, unified AIADMK tells EC

Burying their hatchet, the Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam groups jointly approached the Election Commission as a unified AIADMK party to reclaim the two leaf poll symbol and the original name of the party.

In a petition filed before the poll panel on Friday, their leaders stated that all previous affidavits filed by the two former factions are being withdrawn. “The AIADMK is now functioning as one party with the two groups having unified. Therefore, there can be no embargo now on the use of the Two Leaves symbol allotted to the party AIADMK,” the petition said.

Last month, Paneerselvam rejoined the state government as deputy chief minister while CM Palanisami agreed to his becoming the chief coordinator of the party.

Senior AIADMK leader K P Munusamy told reporters that "the EC has been informed that the two factions headed by O Panneerselvam and Edappadi Palaniswami have merged to protect Amma's legacy, to respect sentiments of party cadres and for good governance."

The party also informed the EC about resolutions adopted at the general council meeting on September 12 on removing Sasikala and invalidating all appointments made by her, including of her nephew Dhinakaran as AIADMK deputy general secretary, Munusamy said.

"Late J Jayalalithaa will be the permanent general Secretary, party top leaders Panneerselvam and chief minister Palaniswami will be the Coordinator and Joint Coordinator respectively till elections are held for the posts. The EC has been informed about all these changes in party rules and regulations," he said.
Senior AIADMK leaders Jayakumar, RB Udayakumar C V Shanmugam, Manoj Pandiana and MP V Maitreyan (belonging to both the former groups) accompanied Munusamy.

Supporters of ousted AIADMK deputy general Secretary TTV Dhinakaran have already approached the EC to ask that the September 12 General Council meeting be declared invalid.

The Election Commission will hear the dispute over the 'two leaves' symbol of the AIADMK on October 5, six months after it was frozen when the two warring factions of the party had staked claim to it. The poll panel has given the rival factions time till September 29 to file fresh submissions.

The commission has directed all involved in the dispute to submit the list of general council members and central executive committee members of the party as on December 5, 2016. The two factions have so far submitted around 10 lakh affidavits staking claim to the symbol and the title of the party.

Last week, Madras High Court had directed the EC to decide before October 31 the matter related to the AIADMK symbol. It said the EC must decide which faction enjoyed a majority in the ruling party in Tamil Nadu and, accordingly, allot the 'two leaves' symbol to it. Last March, the EC froze the symbol ahead of the RK Nagar bye-poll in which Dhinkaran was AIADMK candidate.