OPS files caveat, TTV may take EC to court

The petition filed by the AIADMK leader appealed to the apex court not to pass any order if the AIADMK (Amma) headed by Dinakaran moved the court challenging the EC order in “Two Leaves’ case.

The caveat is aimed at pre-empting Dinakaran’s move to obtain a stay order on the EC verdict or restrain the AIADMK from using it in the RK Nagar bypoll till the matter is finally settled.

Dinakaran’s lawyer ChendurPandi said they would appeal against the EC order next week since they required the signatures from AIADMK (Amma) general secretary VK Sasikala to file a petition in the Supreme Court. He faulted the order saying that the EC had come to a decision that a majority of the general council members supported the Panneerselvam group without verifying their signatures and carrying out a cross examination of members who challenged the claim of the ruling party.

The notification of the RK bypoll immediately after allocating ‘Two Leaves’ symbol had also showed the real intention of the Election Commission, he alleged.

Dinakaran has decided to hold a meeting with his loyalists on November 25 to elicit their views on the future course of the party after losing the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol, since his faction would have to stay in the political arena and hold on to his supporters without the symbol and party name for long if the apex court refused to stay the EC judgment.

As Panneerselvam had filed a caveat, they should be given notice when the court takes up Dinakaran’s appeal.

Besides, the courts are unlikely to intervene in a case once the election process is kickstarted.