Two Leaves` symbol dispute: Dhinakaran faction seeks cross-examination of rival faction leaders

New Delhi: The TTV Dhinakaran faction of the AIADMK on Tuesday petitioned the Election Commission seeking cross-examination of some of the rival faction leaders before it begins final hearing in the `Two Leaves` symbol dispute on Friday.

Counsel for the faction Raja Sendoorpandi, who filed some additional affidavits before the Commission on Tuesday, told reporters later that they expected the Commission to allow their plea as it was functioning as a tribunal in quasi-judicial proceedings.

The Commission, which is hearing the original petition filed by Madhusudhan, leader of the O Panneerselvam faction, against VK Sasikala, who was elected General Secretary following the death of J Jayalalithaa, will take up the case on October 6.

The case took a curious turn after the Panneerselvam faction and the faction headed by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami merged early last month and decided to remove Sasikala and Dinakaran from the posts of General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary respectively.

Sendoorpandi said, in all, the faction has filed 2,140 documents before the Commission including 30 volumes on Tuesday that covered affidavits of office bearers and General Council members of the remaining 30 remaining party districts apart from those belonging to the Karnataka unit and some MPs.

Sendoorpandi refused to disclose details of those who filed the affidavits on the ground that they may come under compulsion or force from the rival camp if the names are made public.

He said they have told the Commission that there was need for cross-examining members of the rival side because they had given sworn statements earlier saying something, and now filed another set of documents saying something else.

"We are of the view that they may have filed the fresh documents under pressure, compulsion by cheating by the rival camp," the counsel contended.

He also said drew attention of the Commission to the hearing fixed on Wednesday by the Madras High Court on the petition filed by 18 MLAs owing allegiance to Dinakaran against their disqualification by the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker. The court had asked the Commission not to hold by elections to those constituencies pending disposal of the case by it.