Tamil Nadu Erode East Bypoll: Supreme Court Directs Election Commission To Respond On AIADMK's 'Two Leaves' Symbol By 3 February

The Supreme Court on Monday (30 January) directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to submit its response regarding the 'two-leaves' symbol by 3 February.

The symbol is claimed by the Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) and O Panneerselvam (OPS) factions of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

A few days back, the EPS faction had approached the Court asking it to pass an interim order in the case regarding the general council meeting in July 2022, during which OPS and his supporters were expelled.

The plea for an interim order was because going by past precedent, the ECI would not accept the nomination form of AIADMK candidates without the signature of both OPS (the party Coordinator) and EPS (the joint Coordinator).

After expelling OPS, EPS had become the Interim General Secretary of the party but he has neither been officially allotted the party symbol nor has the general council meeting called by him to expel OPS, been declared as 'valid' by the Supreme Court.

In the current scenario, a candidate put up by neither faction would be able to contest on the 'two-leaves' symbol because that would require the signature of both EPS and OPS.

The Court had then said that it would try to pass final orders in the case before the last date for nominations. In the event of it being unable to do so, it would pass interim orders.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu Erode East Bypoll: EPS Faction Seeks Interim Relief From Supreme Court; Candidate Not Yet Finalised