AIADMK symbol case hearing in EC adjourned to Wednesday

The hearing in the "Two Leaves" AIADMK symbol case in the Election Commission following a row between rival factions was adjourned for Wednesday after three hours of arguments on Monday over the alleged fake affidavits filed by the ruling faction.

The decision to hold further hearing in the case came after the T.T.V. Dinakaran faction sought permission for cross examination of some of the people whose affidavits were filed by the faction headed by the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister.

Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for Chief Minister E. Palaniswami, told reporters later that the Dinakaran faction did not have affidavits.

He said they were desperately attempting to delay a decision in the case so that the commission would not be able to meet the November 10 deadline set by the Madras High Court.

"In fact we want the hearing to close as fast as possible so that the symbol is given to us and the party can function without any hurdle," Rohatgi said.

Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for V.K. Sasikala, alleged that some of the persons who had filed affidavits in favour of the ruling faction need to be cross examined because they now say they were made to sign under duress.

Vijay Hansaria, appearing for Dinakaran, said the complaints of some of those whose names have appeared in the rivals' documents were that they have not filed the documents, they have not signed the affidavits, they do not know English and that they were made to believe that they were signing in favour of Sasikala.

He alleged that the rival faction did not want cross examination because truth would come out about cheating and forgery and they could be prosecuted.

K.P. Munsamy, senior leader of the ruling faction, said the Dinakaran faction did not have adquate support in the AIADMK General Council or among the legislators and so were indulging in tactics to delay a final decision.

--IANS

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