Setback to Dhinakaran-Sasikala faction as HC dismisses plea for AIADMK name, symbol

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed the pleas of TTV Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala challenging the Election Commission's order granting the AIADMK name and two leaves symbol to the faction led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami, saying that the figures before showed the Palaniswami-led group "enjoyed a clear majority".

A bench of justices G S Sistani and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal upheld the EC's decision of November 23, 2017, saying that none of the grounds of challenge raised by the Dhinakaran-Sasikala faction were made out and there was "no infirmity" in the poll panel's order allotting the party name and symbol to the group led by Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam.

After the order was pronounced, senior advocate Abhishek M Singhvi, appearing for Dhinakaran and Sasikala, urged the bench to direct the EC not to allot the pressure cooker symbol to anyone during the next 15 days so that they have time to move the Supreme Court and seek an appropriate relief from there.

The EC, thereafter, agreed not to allot the 'pressure cooker' symbol to anyone for next 15 days in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Dhinakaran had floated Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) after he and Sasikala were expelled from the Palaniswami-led AIADMK. The symbol issue has been lingering since April 2017 and the verdict comes as a shot in the arm for the Palanisami-led AIADMK ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Palaniswami on Thursday hailed the verdict, saying that it showed they are the "true AIADMK".

Dhinakaran's AMMK said the verdict was expected but vowed to put up a good show in the Lok Sabha polls.