EC freezes AIADMK's election symbol 'two leaves'

The Election Commission has blocked AIADMK's election symbol 'two leaves'. The poll panel issued an interim order last night saying that both the rival camps of the party - VK Sasikala faction and O Panneerselvam faction - cannot use the party symbol as well as its name for the forthcoming RK Nagar Assembly by-poll. 

The Commission has given both camps time till 10 this morning to choose new symbols to contest the by-poll. After a day-long hearing in New Delhi, the poll panel said, it needs more time to read the voluminous documents submitted by both the factions. The Commission has



clarified that the decision is effective only till the end of the by-election.

The by-poll, to be held on the 12th of next month, was necessitated following the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. Today is the last date for filing of nominations for the polls. Last week, the Panneerselvam camp had submitted a petition to the Election Commission requesting allotment of the party symbol to it. A delegation from the Sasikala camp had also submitted a memorandum to the panel requesting it not to entertain any claim to the symbol from the Panneerselvam faction.