AMMK begins registration process with election panel

The AMMK, led by its general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, has submitted the application along with party constitution and the proposal forms by party functionaries. “Details about the party, constitution and the office-bearer particulars have been furnished to the Election Commission of India, which will take a decision on our application soon,” AMMK advocate Raja Senthur Pandian, who has been dealing the election-related litigations of AMMK, told reporters. “The process of registering the party from our end has begun and the legal battle for Two Leaves symbol will be taken up by party leader V K Sasikala,” AMMK sources informed.

The party is expecting the approval from ECI in the coming week, but AMMK will not wait for the ECI approval process for the May 19 bypolls. The party will continue to fight in the upcoming by-election to the four assembly seats, AMMK sources said.

Meanwhile, the AMMK announced the candidates for four assembly seats. AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran in a statement said that former MP K Sukumar will be the party’s candidate for Sulur assembly constituency, former MLAs R Sundar Raj, I Mahendran and P H Sahul Hameed will be the nominees for Ottapidaram, Tiruparankundram and Aravakurichi seats respectively.

In a related development, the AIADMK and had also kick-started electioneering works related to the four vacant Assembly seats of Tiruparankundram, Sulur, Ottapidaram and Aravakurichi for which the nomination process began on Monday. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam also interviewed the aspiring candidates at AIADMK headquarters. The AIADMK leaders also held a high-level meeting on the poll strategies and campaign plan to be undertaken in the four seats, which are crucial for the EPS government.

EPS and OPS in a statement directed party headquarters office bearers, MLAs, MPs, district functionaries and spokespersons to work for the victory of AIADMK candidates and announced poll in charges for the May 19 battle.