The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has asked the Election Commission (EC) to take a decision on the two leaves symbol of the AIADMK by October 31. The court order comes days after the Madras High Court asked the EC to conduct the local body elections by November 17.

The Madurai bench passed the order while hearing a petition filed by one Ramkumar from Tiruchendur who had asked the court to make a retired judge must conduct meetings with factions of AIADMK party. Hearing the petition on Friday, the judge stated the example of Samajwadi party symbol issue where Akhilesh Yadav was given the party symbol.

The judge said that the Election Commission should take a swift decision in a similar manner. However, the Election Commission stated in the court that the constant delay in the case was due to the turmoil in the AIADMK party and there was no delay from their side.

 The court asked the party to conduct meetings and asked the Election Commission to take a decision by October 31. The case has been disposed off by the court.

In March, the Election Commission had frozen the two leaves symbol after two factions led by VK Sasikala and O Panneerselvam had staked claim to the party symbol. Thousands of affidavits were filed by both the factions following this.

However, in August, two factions led by O Panneerselvam and Edappadi Palaniswami joined hands and asked the Election Commission to withdraw the affidavits filed by them earlier. But taking a decision on the two-leaf symbol will be a difficult task for the EC as the faction led by TTV Dhinakaran might stake claim for the party symbol.

On September 4, the High Court ordered that elections be conducted in the state by mid-November. The Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (TNSEC) was ordered to issue a notification by September 18 and complete the entire process by November 17.