CHENNAI: The AIADMK legal wing has petitioned the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer on Friday, demanding strict action against TVK general secretary and minister Aadhav Arjuna for allegedly misleading voters by equating TVK’s ‘Whistle’ symbol with the AIADMK’s ‘Two Leaves’.The complaint stems from campaign speeches delivered in the Maduranthakam constituency on Sept 23. Arjuna reportedly claimed that the “Two Leaves era is over” and suggested that the political legacy of M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa now rests with the ‘Whistle’ symbol. Previous campaign remarks also allegedly implied that “Two Leaves and Whistle are the same.”AIADMK Legal Wing Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP I S Inbadurai urged the ECI to thoroughly examine complete audio-video recordings and campaign materials to determine whether these statements created deliberate confusion among voters regarding party identities.Highlighting the legal provisions, the petition specifically calls on the Election Commission to issue a show-cause notice to TVK under Para 16A of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.The AIADMK demanded that if the inquiry confirms a violation of the Model Code of Conduct or ECI directives, the commission must invoke Para 16A to suspend or, if necessary, withdraw TVK’s recognition as a political party.Clarifying their legal stance, Inbadurai stated that the submission goes beyond merely citing the comparison as a corrupt practice under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act. The core demand focuses on evaluating the full context of the speech to address electoral misconduct and safeguard the distinct identity of election symbols, ensuring voters can exercise an unconfused choice.
