The Delhi High Court on Monday concluded the hearing on an application moved by Mr. T.T.V. Dhinakaran seeking permission to use a suitable name and a symbol for his faction for the upcoming civic polls.
Justice Rekha Palli reserved her order after the counsel for Mr. Dhinakaran, the Election Commission of India and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Mr. Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. O. Panneerselvam finished their arguments.
Mr. Dhinakaran had sought to be allotted a suitable name and the ‘pressure cooker’ symbol to his faction of the party till his main petition staking claim over the ‘two leaves’ symbol is decided by the High Court.
During the hearing, senior advocate Mr. Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mr. Dhinakaran, asked how the faction led by Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Panneerselvam were prejudiced if his client was to get a name and a symbol.
“We should not be hounded out of the democratic process by the Election Commission,” Mr. Sibal contended.
The senior counsel said Mr. Dhinakaran’s faction of the party wanted to begin their political activities so that they could make themselves familiar with the electors.
Senior advocate Mr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, also appearing for Mr. Dhinakaran, said his client was not being given a level playing field for political activities.
‘No urgency’
Senior advocate Mr. C.S. Vaidyanathan, representing Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Panneerselvam, argued that though the local body polls were to be conducted by the State Election Commission, it had not been made a party in the present case.
Mr. Vaidyanathan further argued that there was no urgency in Mr. Dhinakaran’s plea as civic polls dates had not been announced.
