O Panneerselvam or VK Sasikala – who will get AIADMK symbol 'two leaves'? EC begins hearing

The EC on Wednesday began hearing a dispute between the O Panneerselvam and Sasikala Natarajan-led factions over their claim of being the lawful claimant to the AIADMK party's poll symbol - Two Leaves.

Chennai: The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday began hearing a dispute between the O Panneerselvam and Sasikala Natarajan-led factions over their claim of being the lawful claimant to the AIADMK party's poll symbol - Two Leaves.

The poll panel's decision in the case can potentially have far-reaching impact on Tamil Nadu politics.

Earlier today, the top leaders from the both sides - OPS and Sasikala – reached the State Election Commission office to present their case in connection with the dispute.

The fight over party symbol has picked up in view of by-election to the R K Nagar assembly constituency in Chennai on April 12. 

The assembly constituency was held by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. The byelection has been necessitated by her death.

On Tuesday, Sasikala-led AIADMK filed a petition before the commission staking claim to the party's two-leaves symbol. Party Deputy General Secretary T T V Dinakaran has claimed that the 'two leaves' symbol belongs to his faction and that he would file the nomination for the R K Nagar constituency on March 23.

Filing of nominations for the byelection began on March 16. Scrutiny of nominations would take place on March 24 when the symbol will be a key issue. The byelection results will be declared on April 17.

With PTI inputs