On Monday, the Madras High Court issued a restraining order against O Paneerselvam, the expelled AIADMK leader, prohibiting him from utilizing the official letterhead, the party’s reserved symbol “Two Leaves,” and its flag.
In an internal conflict within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), on Monday the Madras High Court has issued a directive that further intensifies the party’s leadership tussle. The court has officially restrained O Paneerselvam, the expelled AIADMK leader, from utilizing the party’s official letterhead, the reserved symbol “Two Leaves,” and the party flag.
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This legal injunction was passed by Justice N Sathishkumar in response to a suit and subsequent applications filed by AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. The origins of this legal battle trace back to November 7, 2023, when Justice Sathishkumar initially issued an interim order, “restraining Paneerselvam from using the party letterhead, symbol, and flag.” This decision came after Palaniswami filed a suit against Paneerselvam, who is commonly referred to as OPS.
The conflict between the two prominent leaders reached the judiciary when OPS, aggrieved by the interim order, filed appeals against the decision. However, his efforts were met with disappointment as a division bench, comprising Justices R Mahadevan and Mohammed Shaffiq, dismissed all three appeals on January 11, 2024. Despite this setback, the bench allowed OPS the opportunity to challenge the interim order by “granting liberty to the expelled leader to approach the single Judge by filing necessary applications seeking to vacate the order, if any, passed against him.”
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Following this, OPS took the legal avenue suggested and approached the single judge with his application. The court, after “hearing elaborate arguments from both sides,” ruled in favor of Palaniswami, leading to the current order by Justice Sathishkumar that upholds the restrictions on OPS’s use of the AIADMK’s symbols and assets.
This legal skirmish is part of a broader power struggle that has been unfolding within the AIADMK. The discord became particularly pronounced in July 2022 when Paneerselvam was expelled from the party by a general council resolution. Subsequently, Palaniswami ascended as the principal leader of the main opposition party, marking a significant shift in the party’s leadership dynamics.
The Madras High Court’s recent ruling not only underscores the ongoing legal battles within the AIADMK but also highlights the intricate relationship between party politics and the judiciary. As the situation continues to evolve, the implications of this legal decision are expected to resonate within the political landscape of Tamil Nadu, affecting the party’s unity, public image, and future strategies.
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