'OPS will campaign for ‘Two-Leaves’ symbol in Erode East by-poll'

CHENNAI: Bringing the legal battle over the party symbol and leadership to a temporary halt, ousted AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam camp has decided to pull back their candidate T Senthil Murugan from Erode East assembly by-poll. Going a step forward, they declared that they would campaign for the victory of the ‘Two-Leaves’ symbol. O Panneerselvam would also campaign in the Erode East constituency.

“We will campaign for the victory of the ‘Two-Leaves’ symbol, not for KS Thennarasu,” former minister K P Krishnan told media persons at OPS’ Greenways Road residence. They met the media persons after holding a detailed meeting, exploring the legal provisions.

“After our sustained efforts to prevent the symbol, which was found by AIADMK founder president M G Ramachandran, from being frozen (temporary non-use) frutified, we have decided against fielding their candidate T Senthil Murugan,” said Krishnan who flanked by R Vaithilingam and P H Manoj Pandian.

They never want the symbol to be frozen, he reiterated to justify their decision to abstain from fielding their candidate.

He continued that they were “not concerned” who is going to be the candidate from the EPS camp. “Our intention is the victory of the Two-Leaves symbol,” he said and alluded that they would not approach the Election Commission of India to contest against the procedure adopted by EPS camp in selecting the candidate.

It may be recalled that OPS camp told media persons that they would approach the ECI to register their protest against the unfair practice of Hussain in selecting the party candidate. "The entire procedure carried out (by EPS camp) was against the SC's direction, which was issued with 'good intention'," OPS said in his statement on Sunday.

EPS camp in Delhi to get ‘Two-Leaves’ symbol

Presidium Chairman of the AIADMK Tamizhmahan Hussain and Rajya Sabha MP C Ve Shanmugam would submit a report on selection of the party candidate along with the correspondence votes, which were received from the members of the General Council, to seek ‘Two-Leaves’ symbol for the Erode East Constituency bypoll.

The party, following the Supreme Court’s direction on February 3, adopted the correspondence voting method to select the party candidate for the bypoll. After completing the process and collecting the drafted letter along with the correspondence votes from the members on Sunday, Hussan along with MP Shanmugam left for Delhi at about 10 am on Monday.

Sources in the party said that they got an appointment to meet the authorities in the ECI at 3 pm. They have also exuded confidence in getting the symbol.