Edappadi Palaniswamy and Panneerselvam at advantageous position, say experts

Chennai: AIADMK led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam is at an "advantageous position" to retrieve the AIADMK name and two leaves symbol since majority of the elected representatives support their leadership, former EC officials said.

They are of the opinion that since the EC has posted the case for final hearing it would go by the established practice of allotting the name and symbol to the faction that has the majority of MLAs and MPs. The officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said the EC had frozen the symbol in March only because it could not have taken any decision in a day.

"Now that the EC has time to go through all claims and counter-claims, it will, in all probability, go by the established practice of determining the faction's strength in the Parliamentary and Legislature party," a former Election Commissioner said.

Former Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu Naresh Gupta told a television channel that in this case, the EC would give its verdict after considering all factors, including the number of elected representatives supporting the faction.

"The Election Commission will go through the entire list of MLAs, MPs and office bearers and whose side they are. And moreover there is a deadline set by the Madras High Court to dispose off the petitions by October 31. The EC will look into the support base of the factions and also whether the by-laws were amended according to the Constitution of the party," Gupta said.