Six thousand members belonging to former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s faction filed an affidavit with the Election Commission (EC) on Monday, claiming to be the ‘real’ AIADMK.
This comes two days before the EC hears arguments from the rival camps belonging to VK Sasikala and OPS on the allotment of the party’s two-leaves symbol for the RK Nagar bye-polls. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 10.30am on Wednesday and the EC is likely to pass orders on the same day.
Puthiya Thalaimurai reports that 60 lakh members belonging to OPS’s faction may file an affidavit with the EC to lend support to the former CM.
Panneerselvam had on March 16 sought the allotment of the two-leaves for his candidate E Madhusudhanan in the RK Nagar bye-elections. Following OPS staking claim to the party symbol, the EC had sought the response of AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala and AIADMK Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran on the matter.
Both sides had met with Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi last week with regard to the matter. While OPS’s faction claims to have the backing of the cadres, Sasikala’s side say they are the real AIADMK with the support of a majority of MLAs and MPs.
The EC may also pass orders on the validity of Sasikala’s appointment as interim general secretary. OPS has called her appointment invalid, arguing that she was chosen by AIADMK’s general council rather than primary members.