The order of the Election Commission on Thursday granting the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol to the unified AIADMK led by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam brings to an end an almost year-long dispute between warring factions of the AIADMK following the death of party supremo J. Jayalalithaa. The saga of the party symbol is reminiscent of a previous time when Jayalalithaa had similarly fought for the symbol following the death of M.G. Ramachandran in December 1987.
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After his death, the AIADMK split into two factions, one led by MGR's widow Janaki Ramachandran and the other by Jayalalithaa. On December 25, 1987, Jayalalithaa was humiliated at M.G. Ramachandran’s funeral procession and on January 1, 1988, she assumed General Secretaryship of the AIADMK. On January 24, 1989, she resigned her Rajya Sabha membership after her election to the State Assembly, contesting from Bodinayakkanur. The Jayalalithaa-led faction won only 27 seats, making it the largest opposition party in the State Assembly.
On February 10, 1989, the two AIADMK factions united and and the next day, they were granted the Two Leaves symbol of the undivided party by the Election Commission. The Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. R. V. S. Peri Sastri, said in his order that "following the withdrawal of both the petitions filed by Mrs. Janaki Ramachandran and Ms. Jayalalitha, the dispute raised by them on the symbol survived no more."
On February 12, Jayalalitha said in a statement that the restoration of the "two leaves" symbol to the party would prove a stepping stone for future victories. The Hindu reported that Janaki Ramachandran was not interested in seeing any press person or politician as she was “vexed with the developments taking place within the AIADMK”.
On February 13, the merger of the two factions of the AIADMK was formalised with a number of leaders and volunteers of the Janaki group coming to the party headquarters and being welcomed by Jayalalithaa faction leaders. The Hindu reported that the party headquarters on Lloyds Road bustled with activity following the announcement, with enthusiastic workers, including a large number of women from both factions streaming in. Crackers were burst as leaders of both factions arrived, and were greeted by leaders of the other faction. Office assistants who were working at the Janaki faction party office at Saidapet also returned to take up their posts in the Lloyds Road office. Jayalalitha, who drove to the party headquarters from the Assembly around 11.15 a.m., was greeted with loud cheers. Later, talking to the media, Jayalalithaa said: "We are happy to welcome everyone. If Mrs. Ramachandran takes over the Presidentship, we will be happy."
Asked about the view that neither faction was entitled to the Sathya Studio property as they had functioned for more than a year as separate entities, she said that she was not interested in going into the details of the property. "It belongs to the unified party. No individual member or even the General Secretary can touch a penny of it". She said that as per the will of MGR, the Sathya Studio belonged to the party and "Mrs. Janaki Ramachandran is free to enjoy the property if she wishes”.
