Two leaves symbol: Boost for AIADMK, setback for TTV

The Delhi High Court verdict upholding the Election Commission’s decision allotting the magical 'two leaves' symbol to the AIADMK faction led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam is not just a shot in the arm for the duo, but yet another body blow to rebel T T V Dhinakaran.

Losing the court battle, Dhinakaran, nephew of jailed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, is now left with just two options — knocking at the door of the Supreme Court seeking a review of the high court or approach the EC seeking a common symbol for all candidates to be fielded by his faction now known as Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK).

This is the latest setback to Dhinakaran, who has been pushed to the corner by Palaniswami, who has emerged as a shrewd politician by managing to run a more or less minority government without any hiccups for two years, and the BJP which has been supporting the AIADMK dispensation since the death of its charismatic leader J Jayalalithaa.

Dhinakaran has been facing the wrath of his own people ever since the Madras High Court upheld disqualification of 18 AIADMK MLAs owing allegiance to him in October last year. Two powerful district secretaries have jumped the ship to the DMK in the past three months and dissidence seems to be building up within his camp — the verdict adds to Dhinakaran’s woes just before elections.

Though Dhinakaran is meeting the people by addressing rallies across the state and plans to contest all 40 Lok Sabha seats, his charisma won’t just be enough to take on the mighty EPS-OPS duo. On the other hand, the verdict is certainly a big boost for EPS-OPS combine especially in the context of Lok Sabha polls. Two Leaves still holds sway over lakhs of people in Tamil Nadu since it is synonymous with the legendary M G Ramachandran, who chose the symbol when he launched the AIADMK in 1972. People in interior Tamil Nadu identify the AIADMK with the symbol which would certainly be good news to the ears of the EPS-OPS duo who have aligned with the BJP for Lok Sabha polls.

But on the flipside, Dhinakaran did manage to trounce the AIADMK, despite it contesting on 'two leaves' symbol, in the R K Nagar by-elections in December 2017 by facing the election with “pressure cooker.” The rebel leader’s camp is confident that not contesting on 'two leaves' will not have much impact since they feel Dhinakaran’s presence will compensate for the loss of symbol.

But in reality, political analysts say, it would be very difficult because getting a new symbol to the people in all constituencies just before elections and win them. Dhinakaran has decided to go before the people without any alliance and is pinning all his hopes on the disgruntled AIADMK cadre and public who are fed up with the Dravidian majors.

Professor Ramu Manivannan, head of Department of Politics and Public Administration of the University of Madras, told DH the verdict will definitely strengthen the AIADMK and BJP alliance ahead of the polls. “It is one more setback for Dhinakaran and major boost for EPS and OPS. This will help the duo in the polls. Dhinakaran has to be clear on his attacks against the BJP. He criticises the AIADMK but does not blame the BJP which is responsible for all the problems. He should pin the blame on both if he needs to make an impact,” Manivannan said.