Dinakaran alleges manipulation of poll symbol by OPS team

Chennai: AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran on Monday accused the rebel party faction led by O Panneerselvam of "manipulating" its poll symbol of electricity pole as 'two leaves' in the RK Nagar constituency here.

Dinakaran made the allegation in a complaint to the Election Commission of India.

He alleged that the electorate in RK Nagar is being misled by "manipulating" the electricity pole symbol as "two leaves," which has been already frozen by the EC.

While Dinakaran is the candidate of AIADMK Amma faction, E Madhusudanan is the nominee of Panneerselvam-led AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi Amma group in R K Nagar.

The AIADMK sources said the complaint has been sent to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi with a copy to Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni.

Reacting to the complaint, former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said, "The twin electricity pole is our victory symbol. The have lodged this complaint out of the fear of defeat."

With the EC recently freezing the AIADMK's 'two leaves' election symbol and barring both groups from using the party name AIADMK after they staked claim to it, Dinakaran and Madhusudhanan are contesting the bypoll on their 'hat' and 'electric pole' symbols respectively. Meanwhile, Returning Officer Praveen P Nair for R K Nagar assembly constituency confirmed the receipt of a copy of complaint from Dinakaran.

"I am yet to go through the complaint fully. I have got a complaint copy alleging manipulation of poll symbol by Panneerselvam faction," he told PTI.

Asked on the action that was likely to follow, he declined to comment.