(Image source from: NewsBharati)

EC’s Full Bench To Hear “Two Leaves” Symbol Case Today:- A crucial hearing will be conducted by the full bench of the Election Commission on demands from the factions headed by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and rebel leader TTV Dhinakaran that the “two leaves” symbol be allotted to them.

The hearing will start at 3 p.m at the Nirvachan Sadan, the headquarter of the Election Commission by Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Jyoti and Election Commissioners Om Prakash Rawat and Sunil Arora. The representatives from both factions will present their case. Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and E. Madhusudhanan filed the original case after they rebelled against the then interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala staking claim for the two leaves symbol.  

Dhinakaran knocked at the doors of the Election Commission, as the EPS and OPS factions merged, asking it not to pass any orders without hearing their side. The EC has scheduled the hearing on the matter on Friday, with the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court asking it to dispose of the petition by October 31.

According to sources, verdict might be passed the same evening, if EC is satisfied with the arguments and if the rival sides does not ask time for counter arguments.

“It all depends on how the hearing goes. But EC is determined to dispose of the case by October 31,” the source said.
Moreover, written responses have been submitted by both the factions, making their stands clear to the EC. They will push their case further at the hearing on Friday. Claim to the “Two Leaves symbol has been staked by both the factions. The symbol holds sway over people from different generations since it is associated with the charisma of late M.G. Ramachandran.

From the past 29 years, this is the second time that rival claims over Two Leaves symbol have reached EC. The AIADMK split into two factions - J Jayalalithaa and V N Janaki In the aftermath of MGR’s death in 1987. The Election Commission kept it under freeze and allotted new symbol for both factions, since both the groups staked claim over the symbol. Later, after the groups united, the symbol was de-frozen.

So, Let us wait and watch if the battle for “two leaves” symbol will reach its crescendo on Friday !!    

SUPRAJA