Election Commission recognises Edappadi Palaniswami as AIADMK general secretary. This is what it means

Related: EPS’ journey to becoming AIADMK general secretary

What the ECI said

Meanwhile, the ECI also wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka to allot the “Two Leaves” symbol to the AIADMK candidate contesting the upcoming Assembly elections there.

Copy of ECI Communication to Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka

In the communication, it stated: “The commission has decided to extend the concession sought by the party under paragraph 10 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. Accordingly, the candidate set up by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam at the current general election to the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka from all Assembly Constituencies of the said state shall be allotted the symbol ‘Two Leaves’.”

It added that returning officers may be informed that AIADMK candidates were eligible for the allotment of the “Two Leaves’ symbol.

On Tuesday, Palaniswami announced that D Anbarasan, the praesidium chairman of the Karnataka unit of the AIADMK, would contest the Assembly elections from the Pulakeshinagar Assembly constituency.

It is to be noted that Palaniswami approached the Delhi High Court, which directed the ECI to take a call within 10 days on updating the change in the AIADMK’s bylaws on its website, enabling the party to fight polls.

In its 12 April direction, the bench led by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Yadav also observed that Panneerselvam could approach the ECI to express his grievances and seek legal remedies.

Related: SC order in favour of Palaniswami doesn’t end AIADMK power tussle

Celebrations at party headquarters

On Thursday, Palaniswami convened a meeting with the district secretaries at the party headquarters.

After the ECI recognised him as the party general secretary, Palaniswami came to the headquarters and garlanded the statues of AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran (MGR) and former general secretary J Jayalalithaa.

A rousing welcome was given to Palaniswami. The cadres raised slogans hailing the new general secretary. Crackers were burst and sweets were distributed.

The functionaries and district secretaries met Palaniswami, garlanded him, and conveyed their wishes.

The AIADMK MLAs who participated in the Assembly session distributed sweets to reporters and the public at the Secretariat.

AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan told South First that the announcement had come at the right time.

“Justice is finally served, after much contemplation and everybody’s own interpretation of the bylaws of the party. Backstabbers were trying their luck in the judiciary, but things are finally in his favour,” he said.

Speaking to reporters on the Assembly campus, senior AIADMK leader K Sengottaian said that the poll panel’s decision had immensely gladdened the party cadre.

“The AIADMK will win in all the 40 Tamil Nadu constituencies in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections with the people’s support,” he said.

Also read: ‘AIADMK will lead mega alliance in Lok Sabha polls’

No confusion hereafter, says EPS

On Thursday evening, Palaniswami told reporters at the party headquarters: “Though I have been selected as the general secretary, I will always be one of the cadres. We are ready to welcome back the functionaries who left the party, except a few.”

He also said that AIADMK was the only party that could defeat the ruling DMK, and there was no confusion in the party.

“We are united. We will accept those who have the intention to bring the AIADMK back into power again. We will pressure the speaker to decide on the deputy Opposition party,” Palaniswami said.

தொண்டர்களோடு இணைந்து கழகம் காப்போம்; நாடாளுமன்றப் பொது தேர்தலில் வெற்றிவாகை சூடுவோம்;
புரட்சித் தலைவர் எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., புரட்சித் தலைவி அம்மா ஆகியோரது நல்லாசியோடு கழக ஆட்சியை மீண்டும் அமைக்கப் பாடுபடுவோம் !

– மாண்புமிகு கழக பொதுச் செயலாளர் திரு. @EPSTamilNadu அவர்களின் அறிக்கை. pic.twitter.com/rjNF4AytxD

— AIADMK – Say No To Drugs & DMK (@AIADMKOfficial) April 20, 2023

Asked about fielding a candidate in the Karnataka Assembly elections against the BJP, Palaniswami said: “We are fielding only one candidate to show our presence in Karnataka.”

Related: My elevation shows democracy in AIADMK, says EPS

Setback for Panneerselvam

The ECI decision is being seen as a setback to the rebel leader O Panneerselvam and his faction, which — depending on who was speaking — either broke away from the AIADMK or were ousted from it.

OPS and his supporter Pugazhenthi had filed a petition with the ECI not to recognise Palaniswami as the AIADMK general secretary.

Hours before the ECI announcement on Thursday morning, O Paneerselvam announced one M Nedunchezian as his candidate for the Pulikeshinagar Assembly constituency.

Marudhu Alaguraj, a staunch supporter of OPS, later said EPS might win in court and the ECI, but only the people would decide at the end of the day.

“The decision of the commission gives no meaning to the rules framed by the AIADMK founder MGR, and the cadres will not accept it. The Two Leaves symbol, which was in the hands of MGR and Jayalalithaa, was different. It had people’s support. The symbol that EPS and their acquaintance bought through their money power is different,” he said.

He also said that the OPS faction would go to the people and they would decide on the political heir of Jayalalithaa.

It is to be noted that OPS has called for a public rally in Tiruchy on 24 April as a show of strength.

Meanwhile, the case challenging the AIADMK’s 11 July, 2022, general council resolutions was taken up for hearing in the Madras High Court on Thursday.

The rebel leaders Panneerselvam, PH Manoj Pandian, R Vaithilingam, and JCD Prabhakar filed an appeal challenging the single-judge order dismissing the petitions against the general secretary polls.

After hearing the arguments advanced by the OPS and others, the court adjourned the hearing for Friday.