Election Commission denies Dhinakaran's extra time for filing affidavits
CHENNAI: The Election Commission on Thursday rejected rebel AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran's request seeking an extension of time for filing of additional documents to stake a claim for the 'Two Leaves' symbol and asked him to stick to the Friday deadline set by it.
In a letter sent to Dhinakaran, the Election Commission said it was not in a position to entertain his plea seeking three more weeks' time to submit affidavits and documents in the Two Leaves case as the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has asked it to dispose of the case by October 31.
The EC also made it clear that the hearing on the case would be held at 3 pm on October 6 and asked Dhinakaran to file his documents by Friday evening.
“As regards the request for more time to file documents and to adjourn the hearing, it may be noted that there is an order of the division bench of the Madurai Bench of the Hon’ble Madras High Court to decide the case by 31st October 2017,” Pramod Kumar Sharma, Secretary, Election Commission, told Dhinakaran in the letter.
The order would force Dhinakaran to submit all documents supporting his faction’ claim by Friday. The Dhinakaran camp claims it had knocked at the EC’s door asking it not to dispose of the petition filed by Deputy CM, O. Panneerselvam and AIADMK presidium chairman E. Madhusudhanan staking a claim for ‘Two Leaves’ symbol without hearing their side.
Taking note of the petition, the EC had last week sent notices to Panneerselvam, Madhusudhanan, V.K. Sasikala and T.T.V. Dhinakaran asking them to file their replies or affidavits by September 29.
Panneerselvam and Madhusudhanan had filed a petition in the Election C ommission seeking to allot the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol for them, which was opposed by the Sasikala faction that led to the freezing of the symbol.
The EC, in the notice, also asked them to submit the list of General Council members as on December 5, 2016 when J. Jayalalithaa died.
The factions have been asked to submit a list of General Council members, MLAs and MPs supporting them to the Election Commission.
