The Election Commission of India has ‘reserved’ its judgment in the much-awaited case of allotting the frozen election symbol (of Two-Leaves), party flag and the name of the erstwhile AIADMK.

The unified AIADMK under the leadership of EPS-OPS and the faction led by Dinakaran have been demanding allocation of the symbol, name and flag of the AIADMK.  Both the groups have filed various and voluminous documents/affidavits with the Election Commission. Ironically, the case is getting delayed with the Dinakaran’s faction staking its claim for the party symbol, flag and name.

When the case started early this year, the AIADMK had split into two factions led by chief-minister Edapadi K. Palaniswami and former chief-minister O. Panneerselvam. After much dilly-dallying, the factions merged in September, paving way for a unified AIADMK. Under the new arrangement, OPS became the deputy chief-minister and the convener of the party with EPS becoming the deputy convener.

Election Commission had been hearing arguments from the groups. During the final hearing yesterday, it rejected Dinakaran’s counsel’s request for more time and directed the parties to furnish their final set of arguments in writing by next Monday. In all probability, a verdict is likely to emerge next week, observers point out.