A delegation led by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam called on Chief Election Commissioner Nazim Zaidi here on Wednesday, and staked claim for the AIADMK’s “two leaves” symbol.
His group had sought a meeting with the CEC to claim that the appointment of V.K. Sasikala as AIADMK general secretary was illegal and in violation of the party constitution.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Mr. Panneerselvam said, “Amma [Jayalalithaa] had always been against family rule. However, the Sasikala group has again established family rule by nominating [her nephew] Dinakaran.”
“We asked the Election Commission to allow officer-bearers appointed by the then AIADMK general secretary, Jayalalithaa, to continue until a new person is appointed to the post. We urged the panel to let presidium chairman Madhusudanan select the party candidate and allot us the ‘two leaves’ symbol,” he said.
April 12 byelection
The R.K. Nagar seat fell vacant after Jayalalithaa’s death on December 5. Sasikala has nominated the party’s deputy general secretary and her nephew, T.T.V. Dinakaran, as candidate for the April 12 byelection. Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar is also in the fray.
Mr. Panneerselvam said Sasikala’s appointment as AIADMK general secretary was invalid since she was not elected as per the party constitution.
“We want to explain to the CEC why the symbol should be granted to us before the filing of nominations for the R.K. Nagar constituency begins on Thursday,” said a Mr. Panneerselvam loyalist.
The Panneerselvam faction sent its reply as sought by the CEC to the submissions made by Sasikala recently. AIADMK Rajya Sabha member V. Maitreyan sent a 61-page reply to the EC.
The EC had asked the OPS group to reply to Sasikala’s submission sent on March 10. The EC had returned the reply given by Mr. Dinakaran stating that it should rightfully be sent by Sasikala.
The OPS faction has explained in detail the developments that preceded Sasikala’s appointment as general secretary.
