The Supreme Court today kept in abeyance a Delhi High Court order asking the Election Commission to consider allotting the 'pressure cooker' poll symbol to the AIADMK faction led by T T V Dhinakaran.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar also asked the acting chief justice of Delhi High Court to set up a two-judge bench to decide the main dispute between the two AIADMK factions, led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswamy and Dhinakaran, over their rival claims on the party and its 'two leaves' symbol by April end.
The Delhi High Court had on March 9 directed the poll panel to allot a common symbol, preferably that of 'pressure cooker', and a name to the AIADMK (Amma) faction led by Dhinakaran.
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The Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisamy and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam against TTV Dinakaran.
With the death of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, a political turmoil erupted in the state. Following this, Dinakaran lost the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party name and the 'two leaves' symbol to the Palaniswami- Panneerselvam faction.
Dinakaran was also arrested for alleged bribery and then evicted from the party by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E. Palaniswami to patch-up with O. Panneerselvam, following a rift in the party that started after Jayalalithaa's death.
Former AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala, Jayalalithaa's longtime companion, and Dinakaran were last year expelled following the imprisonment of Sasikala in a corruption case.
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The sidelined AIADMK leader, Dinakaran, who recently won the by-election in Chennai's RK Nagar constituency -- the seat represented by iconic leader Jayalalithaa -- had also launched his party 'Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam' in Madurai on March 15.
(Agencies' inputs)
