Election Commission has recognized merged E Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam factions as AIADMK and allotted party’s two leaves symbol to them.
In the 83-page order, the Commission said the merged group enjoys the support of the majority of the members in the organizational and legislature wings of the party.
The merged groups had challenged the appointment of V K Sasikala as the General Secretary of the AIADMK and sought a direction to allot the reserved party symbol to them.
The decision comes eight months after the poll body had frozen the symbol following the dispute between Chief Minister E Palaniswami and now his deputy O Panneerselvam camps.
Prior to the merger, the two factions led by O Panneerselvam and V K Sasikala had staked claim to the symbol and the poll panel had frozen it.
Later, a large group of legislators led by Chief Minister E Palaniswami revolted against Sasikala, who is in jail in a graft case, and announced the merger of the two factions.