'Two-leaves' symbol not a very significant issue, says AIADMK leader, but vows to retrieve it

Madurai: Tamil Nadu minister Sellur K Raju said all efforts were being made to retrieve AIADMK’s ’two leaves’ symbol but said it was not a very “significant or big issue in the present day situation and circumstance”. [caption id=“attachment_2821248” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational Image. Reuters[/caption] “A symbol can be easily taken to the people using the social media,” the minister for cooperatives told reporters, adding that they were making all efforts to retrieve the two leaves symbol. His statement comes in the midst of the two factions in the AIADMK — one led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and the other led by former chief minister O Panneerselvam, staking claim to the party’s election symbol. The Election Commission had on 23 March issued an interim order freezing the “two leaves” election symbol of AIADMK, saying both camps cannot use the symbol as well as its name for the RK Nagar Assembly bypoll. The bypoll, necessitated following the death of former chief minister Jayalalithaa in December 2016, has since been cancelled following allegations that money was used to buy votes. A fresh date for the poll is yet to be announced. Both factions had filed affidavits in large numbers before the EC substantiating their claims to the party symbol. On local body polls, the minister said the party was not scared of the election. “We are ready to face the election,” he said.