Dinakaran seeks High Court nod for 'AIADMK Amma'

Earlier, he had filed a petition in the same court against the verdict of the Election Commission of India allocating ‘Two Leaves’ symbol for the ruling AIADMK in the name of presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan and treasurer O Panneerselvam. 

The RK Nagar MLA had then said the legal fight for ‘Two Leaves’ and the AIADMK would continue and he is only seeking the name of ‘AIADMK (Amma)’ as a temporary measure. During the RK Nagar bypoll, which was first disqualified on April 12, Dinakaran had fought under the party name AIADMK (Amma) while his rival Madhusudhanan entered the poll race in the name AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma). 

Later, he contested as an independent candidate in the December 21 bypoll and won it. Explaining the reasons for the latest move, Dinakaran said, “The local body elections are expected any time. Besides, Assembly and Parliament elections could be held this year.  We need a common symbol throughout the state and a party name is required. We will register a massive victory in the local body elections and prove that we are the heirs to Amma’s legacy. We want to fight in a different party name only to retrieve the AIADMK”. 

One of his supporters said the petition is expected to be taken up the Delhi High Court on Wednesday or Thursday. 

Rejecting his revised salary, TTV Dinakaran has shot off a letter to the Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal and demanded the previously fixed salary. According to the letter, the lone Independent MLA observed that he had opposed the bill when it was tabled in the assembly. 

It would be inappropriate to revise the salary of MLAs citing the already stressed finance of state and the protest by the striking Transport workers. The letter was handed over to the Assembly Secretary to be passed on to the Speaker for further action. 

The DMK had also opposed the salary revision when the Bill was introduced in the Assembly. As per the revision, the salary and allowances of legislators was hiked from Rs 55,000 to Rs 1,05,000 per month, an increase of 90.91 per cent. 

Even as TTV Dinakaran continues to harp on his prediction of AIADMK government’s fall after the Madras High Court judgment on the disqualification of 18 MLAs, fisheries minister D Jayakumar on Tuesday said that the time for RK Nagar to go to jail was approaching fast. 

Speaking to the media here, the minister asserted that all efforts to topple the AIADMK government had been defeated and it would complete its full term.