News Brief
Election Commission Recognises EPS As AIADMK General Secretary And Grants Two-Leaves Symbol For Karnataka Assembly Polls; OPS Also Puts Up Candidates
- The clash between the AIADMK factions has spread to Karnataka with both the EPS and OPS factions putting up their candidates in constituencies having a sizeable Tamil population.
- The EC's recognition comes while the Madras High Court is hearing a petition by the OPS faction against the General Council resolutions passed in July 2022.
- The move has also raised fresh questions about the AIADMK's alliance with the BJP in Tamil Nadu.
OPS and EPS
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has recognised Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) as the General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and allotted the two-leaves symbol to the party's candidate in Bengaluru's Pulakeshinagar (SC) constituency for the Karnataka Assembly elections.
Pulakeshinagar has a sizeable population of Tamils and Muslims. It was won by R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy of the Congress in the 2018 elections. He resigned after not being given the Congress ticket to contest the seat this time.
The recognition is however subject to further court orders, said the ECI.
The announcement by the AIADMK to put up its Karnataka state presidium chairman D Anbarasan as its candidate in the Pulakeshinagar seat comes amidst the ongoing tussle with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu.
In 2018, it contested three seats, i.e., Hanur, Gandhinagar and Kolar Gold Fields. In 1999, it contested 13 seats.
Meanwhile, O Panneerselvam (OPS) has announced his candidates in three seats, i.e., Pulakeshinagar, Gandhinagar and Kolar Golf Fields.
