AIADMK symbol dispute: Sasikala faction to present arguments on October 16

A senior official in the EC told PTI that the poll panel has postponed the hearing to Monday from Friday, October 13, considering a request raised by the counsel of the respondent - the Sasikala faction.

In the first hearing on October 6, the counsel of the merged faction, headed by O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palanaswami, had presented arguments staking claim over the party's 'two leaves' symbol.

The EC had then scheduled the second hearing on October 13 to listen to arguments of the respondents.

According to the counsel of the Sasikala faction, the EC had agreed to take up cross-examination of those who had filed fresh affidavits in support of the EPS-OPS camp in the next hearing.

After the Madras High Court directed the EC to settle the dispute before October 31, the Sasikala faction, now headed by TTV Dinakaran, had in vain sought more time from the poll body and the Supreme Court to file fresh affidavits in its support.

In a sign of relief to the faction, the apex court on October 6 directed the EC to settle the dispute before November 10 and allowed it to proceed with the scheduled hearing in the case on the same day.