Let Madras HC deal with Dinakaran plea, Delhi HC told

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Friday told the Delhi High Court on Friday that the plea of sidelined AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dinakaran seeking direction to use the "pressure cooker" symbol in the upcoming civic polls in Tamil Nadu should be heard in Madras High Court.

Palaniswami's counsel told Justice Rekha Palli that the civic poll is going to be held in Tamil Nadu, and if Dinakaran's faction forms a party, then it will be a state-based party which will function in Tamil Nadu and thus any dispute related to party symbol or name must be entertained by the Madras High Court instead of the Delhi High Court.

He also told the court that the high court has no jurisdiction to deal with allocation of name and symbol to any party.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, argued that any spilt or rebel cannot get recognition till the dispute is sorted out.

The court has listed the matter for February 19 for further hearing.

The court was hearing Dinakaran's plea seeking permission to use the symbol of "pressure cooker" for the purpose of local bodies elections likely to be held in April 2018 or any other elections, during the pendency of the writ petitions regarding two leaves symbol.

In December 2017, Dinakaran won Radhakrishnan Nagar (R.K.Nagar) bypoll as an independent candidate under the banner of "pressure cooker" symbol.

Dinakaran has also challenged the Election Commission order which has awarded two leaves symbol to the AIADMK faction led by Palaniswami and Panneerselvam.

Palaniswami has requested the court to dismiss Dinakaran's plea, saying that he is not a member of the party.

--IANS

akk/vd