SC seeks reply from EC in two leaves symbol case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to the Election Commission on petitions filed by AMMK leaders VK Sasikala and TTV Dhinakaran challenging the Delhi High Court order in the ‘two leaves’ symbol case.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi comprising of Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna asked the poll body to file its reply on the plea.

Dhinakaran and Sasikala of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) had on March 5 filed an appeal in the top court against the high court order of February 27 dismissing their petition against the Election Commission's November 2017 decision.

A division bench of the high court comprising Justices GS Sistani and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal had upheld the poll body's order that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Pannerselvam enjoyed the support of the majority of members in the legislative and organisational wings of the party.

The conflict arose out of competing claims over AIADMK’s two leaves election symbol from the Dhinakaran-Sasikala faction on the one side and Palaniswami-Panneerselvam camp on the other side.

Soon after the death of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa on December 5, 2016, the party split into two factions. While one faction was led by Sasikala-Dhinakaran-Panneerselvam, the other was headed by Palaniswami. However, Panneerselvam and Palaniswami joined hands later to oust Sasikala and Dhinakaran from the party.