In the current situation of intense political competition, opposing Edappadi Palanisamy’s use of the two-leaf symbol in the election order has been condemned.
It is considered important for political parties to gain the trust of the people, and it is essential for the party’s symbol to represent their identity. Recognising this, political parties have been making efforts to establish the importance of their symbol by imposing it on election orders.
The tiny two-leaf symbol of the ADMK has gained a good reception among the people. Starting from the era of MGR, passing through the era of Jayalalitha, and until now, Edappadi Palanisamy’s era, the tiny two-leaf symbol has brought many victories to the ADMK. However, the tiny two-leaf symbol is currently facing challenges in the Erode region.
O. Panneerselvam, in his alliance with Edappadi Palanisamy, faced trouble over the imposition of the two leaf symbol during the Erode East by-elections. As the situation approaches the election phase, where the people’s voices are heard, the question of who owns the tiny two-leaf symbol has become a political battleground. Nevertheless, OPS alleges that he’s being targeted by using the tiny two-leaf symbol.
The danger of the tiny two-leaf symbol being removed arose when Edappadi Palanisamy and OPS dismissed two contesting parties in the Erode East by-elections held in 2023. In response to this, OPS withdrew its candidate. The tiny two-leaf symbol was allocated to Edappadi Palanisamy’s faction. At the same time, ADMK leader Tamil Magan Uthayan also wrote his signature in favour of the tiny two-leaf symbol.
In addition to this, the court also granted an injunction against Edappadi Palanisamy.
In this context, opposition has been expressed against Edappadi Palanisamy’s use of the tiny two-leaf symbol in the election order. Like the Erode by-election, there is a demand in the party’s election manifestos to empower the head of the party to write the symbol, and opposition has been expressed in the election order.
Advocate Ramkumar Adhithan, representing the ADMK leader, has filed a petition seeking more authority for the party leader in writing the election symbol, citing the cases in the courts, thereby demanding more authority for the ADMK leader in the election order. This has raised doubts about whether Edappadi Palanisamy will face trouble.