EC allots 'hat' symbol to Sasikala, OPS gets 'electricity pole'

New Delhi [India] Mar. 23 (ANI): The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday allotted 'hat' symbol to the V.K. Sasikala's faction with the name AIDMK Amma while 'electricity pole' symbol was given to the O. Panneerselvam camp with the name AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi Amma. The Commission earlier on Wednesday decided to freeze the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) election symbol of 'two leaves', after representatives of former Tamil Nadu chief minister O. Panneerselvam and former party general secretary Sasikala factions made their claims for it. "Neither of the two groups shall be permitted to use the symbol 'Two Leaves' of the AIADMK," the Election Commission stated. The poll panel also asked both the factions to choose a new symbol to contest the current by-polls in R.K. Nagar. The Election Commission also allowed both factions a further and final opportunity of adducing documents and affidavits latest by April 17. Earlier on Tuesday, Sasikala-led faction filed a petition before the Commission staking claim to the party's symbol. Panneerselvam-led group had last week claimed that the party symbol rightfully belonged to it as Sasikala's election as the AIADMK general secretary was 'invalid and illegal'. The tussle over party symbol began in view of the by-elections to the R.K. Nagar assembly constituency in Chennai on April 12. The constituency was held by late chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. (ANI)