Chennai: Congress and DMK on Thursday scoffed at the Election Commission’s decision to recognise EPS-OPS faction as AIADMK and allot Two Leaves symbol to them alleging that the order was passed only to ensure that the BJP aligns with the ruling party in Tamil Nadu for the ensuing elections.
While TNCC chief Su Thirunavukarasar accused the Union Government of “influencing the Election Commission” in giving an order favourable to the EPS-OPS faction, DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan said the BJP has always been favouring one faction of the ruling party.
On its part, the BJP welcomed the ruling. “Two Leaves has historical significance in TN politics and we are happy that the freeze on the symbol has been removed. We welcome the decision,” TN BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan said here.
Speaking to reporters in Tuticorin, Thirunavukarasar alleged that the symbol was allotted to the ruling camp only as a precursor to stitching of an alliance.
Elangovan, a Rajya Sabha MP, said the BJP has been favouring one faction of the AIADMK for a very long time. “We all know that the Centre has been favouring only one group and we saw that even the EC’s hands were tied. The EC is now planning to conduct bypolls only because of court prodding,” he said.
