Sir — The Election Commission of India (ECI) allotting the “Two leaves” symbol to the ruling faction of the AIADMK should enthuse both, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy (EPS) and the deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (OPS). The ECI postponing the RK Nagar Assembly poll and freezing the “two leaves” symbol had come as a shock to all in Tamil Nadu. The “two leaves” symbol is crucial for (any faction of the) AIADMK to win because there is no politician in any of the factions of the party who can win an election on his/her own. Gone are the days of the unbelievably charismatic party founder MG Ramachandran and his protégée, J Jayalalithaa. Now, the “unified” AIADMK of EPS and OPS have their eyes firmly fixed on the RK Nagar by-election to be held on December 21.
If reports are to be believed, OPS is wary of EPS running away with all the credit after a possible win in RK Nagar. Any differences between EPS and OPS should be resolved within and there should not be an extension of the political drama anymore in Tamil Nadu. The ruling combine has to work with renewed vigour now that it has the ace in its arsenal — the “two leaves” symbol. Irrespective of what political pundits feel, the symbol can win back a sizeable section of voters who had deserted the party in some of its bastions. The RK Nagar result will not be the final nail in the coffin of any faction or party. However, if the “two leaves” symbol cannot give the RK Nagar seat back to the ruling AIADMK, other parties would stand to gain in the coming days.