''Pressure cooker'' symbol: SC refuses to accept claim of TTV Dinakaran''s outfit

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 26

In a setback to TTV Dinakaran-led outfit, the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to acknowledge its claim over 'pressure cooker' as an election symbol for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls and assembly by-polls in Tamil Nadu and  Puducherry.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, however, asked the Election Commission to consider allotting a common free election symbol to candidates of Dinakaran’s group.

The order to consider granting a common free symbol to the list of 59 candidates furnished before it by the outfit was passed to ensure level-playing field and free and fair elections, it added.

As per the list given by the Dinakaran group, it has named 40 candidates for Lok Sabha polls—39 in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry. It has also given a list of 19 candidates for assembly by-elections on 19 seats—18 in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry.

“But allotting a common election symbol would not amount to granting recognition to his faction as a political group and its candidates would be treated as independents for all practical purposes,” the Bench said.

It was the duty as well as right of EC to consider granting registration to Dinakaran's outfit as a political party and it will be done in due course, it said.

The order came after EC counsel made it clear that ‘pressure cooker’ cannot be given to the Dinakaran-led group as a common election symbol as it was not a registered political party.

The poll panel had on Monday told the court that it can allot ‘pressure cooker’ as a common symbol to an individual candidate but not to an unregistered political group.

Dinakaran had told the top court that the EC's decision would force the candidates of his Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) to contest the Lok Sabha elections on different symbols, putting the party in a disadvantageous position. He had floated AMMK after he and Sasikala were expelled from the Palaniswami-led AIADMK.

On behalf of Dinakaran’s party, senior counsel Kapil Sibal submitted that the last date of filing of nomination was Tuesday and if the party didn’t get the symbol, its candidates would have to contest on different symbols.

On March 15, the top court had agreed to hear a plea of Dinakaran and VK Sasikala challenging a Delhi High Court order granting the 'two leaves' symbol to the AIADMK faction led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami.

On February 28, the high court had dismissed the pleas of Dinakaran and Sasikala challenging the EC order granting the 'AIADMK' name and the 'two leaves' symbol to the faction led by the Tamil Nadu chief minister, saying the figures showed the Palaniswami-led group "enjoyed a clear majority".