OPS or Sasikala? Who will get the AIADMK symbol

The Sasikala faction has referred to the decision of the EC in the Samajwadi Party case in which the majority faction led by former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav had got the symbol.

The Election Commission will take a call on which faction of the AIADMK would get to retain the party's symbol. Both the Sasikala and O Panneerselvam factions would argue before the EC to stake a claim to the two leaves., the AIADMK's symbol.

There are two issues before the EC that would need to be clarified. First, whether Sasikala's appointment as the general secretary of the party was in accordance with the rules of the party. The second issue would be relating to the symbol.

[Sasikala faction files reply on AIADMK symbol row]

The Sasikala faction would quote the rule of the majority in this case. This faction has referred to the decision of the EC in the Samajwadi Party case in which the majority faction led by former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had got the symbol. The EC's order in this case read, "Any democratic institution, which the political parties are, the will of the majority should prevail in the internal functioning of the party, and if the majority will is suppressed or not allowed."

On the other hand, the OPS faction says that the SP's order would not be applicable in this case. "The observation of this hon'ble commission in the Samajwadi Party case has no application in the present matter as the factual matrix are entirely different. Unlike the present case, the party bylaws weren't given a go-by as they have been in this case," the OPS faction has contended. Further it has been contended that, Sasikala's election as general secretary was in dispute. Only Panneerselvam or Madhusudhanan, who were appointed party treasurer and presidium chairman respectively by Jayalalithaa, had the powers to authorise the use of the symbol for contesting the polls.

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