AIADMK factions may seek legal recourse to defreeze party symbol

Chennai, March 23 (IANS) The two warring factions in the AIADMK have expressed their plans to seek legal recourse to defreeze the party's "two leaves" symbol as ordered by the Election Commission.

In a statement on Wednesday night, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said: "Despite placing before the Election Commission strong arguments, it is sad we were not able to get the 'two leaves' symbol."

Panneerselvam said the symbol will be retrieved through legal means.

Similarly, AIADMK Deputy General Secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran told reporters that legal recourse to defreeze the party symbol would be looked into.

The ruling AIADMK is divided into two factions. The ruling faction is led by the now jailed General Secretary V.K. Sasikala while the other is headed by Panneerselvam.

The allotment of the symbol is important as election will be held on April 12 to the Tamil Nadu assembly from the Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency, which was represented by the late J. Jayalalithaa.

Dinakaran will be contesting in Radhakrishnan Nagar on behalf of the ruling party. The Panneerselvam faction has fielded E. Madhusudanan.

In an interim order on Wednesday night, the Election Commission froze the 'two leaves' symbol of the now divided AIADMK and decided that neither of the factions will use the party's name.

The panel said both groups shall be known by such names as they may choose showing, if they so desire, linkage with their parent party -- AIADMK.

Both the groups shall be allotted different symbols from a list of free symbols notified by the poll body for the purposes of the current by-election.