AIADMK leaders to go to New Delhi: Meeting Election Commission or is there more on agenda?

A week after the merger between Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s factions in the AIADMK, ministers and party leaders from both sides will be leaving for New Delhi on Monday night.

There is speculation that the two factions will try meet the Election Commission and withdraw the affidavits filed by them claiming the two leaves symbol.

AIADMK leaders will reportedly be filing an affidavit stating that both the factions have merged and they want to withdraw the affidavits. Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Thangamani, Finance Minister Jayakumar, Law Minister Cve Shanmugam, MP Maithreyan and former MP Manoj Pandian will be leaving for New Delhi on Monday night.

The faction led by Edappadi Palaniswami had also earlier filed affidavits from party functionaries endorsing VK Sasikala’s appointment as General Secretary and O Panneerselvam had filed a petition challenging her appointment.

The Edappadi Palaniswami faction may submit affidavits taking back the support they had extended to appointing Sasikala as the party’s General Secretary.

However, one of the leaders who are going to Delhi told TNM that meeting Election Commission was not the main agenda. “We have some political meetings lined up. Meeting Election Commission may or may not happen,” he said.

When asked who they would be meeting, the leader did not take any names. “We have some important meetings, let’s see how they pan out,” he repeated.

There are reports that O Panneerselvam and Edappadi Palaniswami might also leave on Tuesday. However, sources told TNM that it is not yet confirmed.

Lakhs of affidavits had been filed by both O Panneerselvam and Edappadi Palaniswami claiming the two-leaves symbol. However, it won’t be an easy task as TTV Dhinakaran and MLAs supporting him might also stake claim to the symbol.

However, constitutional experts state that the process is not going to be that simple. A report stated that a fresh petition needs to be filed with the Election Commission showing the support that the party has from its members.  

Moreover, these factions will have to show a two-third majority in the party to stake claim to the symbol. After the application is submitted, the Election commission will complete the hearing and pass its order de-freezing the symbol.