Two leaves symbol: Delhi High Court to hear TTV Dhinakaran`s petition on Friday

CHENNAI: The Delhi High Court on Thursday allowed the urgent listing of TTV Dhinakaran's petition challenging the recent verdict of Election Commision on 'two leaves symbol' case. 

The court is expected to hear Dhinakaran's petition against EC's ruling on 2 leaves poll symbol case on Friday. 

On the other hand, AIADMK nominated E Madhusudhanan as its official nominee to contest the RK Nagar polls scheduled for December 21.

Madhusudhanan is the praesidium chairman of AIADMK and a Panneerselvam loyalist. According to a report, as many as 19 other AIADMK members had also submitted an application seeking nomination to contest the RK Nagar Assembly constituency. 

His candidature came on the day after the rebel faction of the AIADMK named TTV Dinakaran as its candidate for the RK Nagar bypoll. 

In 2015, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was elected from the RK Nagar constituency. After her death in December last year, the constituency fell vacant.

Although the by-poll was scheduled for April 12 this year, it was countermanded following reports of attempted voter bribing by a candidate.

The Madras High Court had directed to hold the by-poll before December 31.

The DMK has said it will be renominating its candidate Marudhu Ganesh and immediately got support from the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruttai Katchi (VCK) and All India Forward Bloc.

On November 23, in a big blow to the AIADMK faction led by Dhinakaran, the Election Commission recognized the united AIADMK under CM Palaniswami and Panneerselvam as the 'real' party and allowed it to use the two-leaves election symbol.

The EC's ruling saw an automatic depletion in team Dhinakaran as three of his supporters rushed to the other camp declaring their allegiance to the Chief Minister.

"It is wrong. We had facts on our side. Majority of MLAs, MPs and party workers were with us. All this was taken into consideration," Dhinakaran was quoted as saying.

Dhinakaran, who said he would appeal to the Supreme Court against the poll panel's decision, claims to have the support of 18 legislators and many others in the party. 

However, only six parliamentarians gave affidavits to the Election Commission, declaring their support to Dhinakaran's aunt VK Sasikala, who is currently serving her jail term in a corruption case.