NEW DELHI: Election commission on Friday directed both AIADMK factions to remove ‘two leaves’ symbol from all official websites, social media which they were allegedly found using covertly.
Strongly instructing that the factions have not complied with the lawful directions of the Commission, the poll panel has asked them to submit a compliance report by April 8.
“The Commission is of the view that the act of the party displaying posters and uploading social media messages with electric poll with two lamps superimposed on two leaves is not an act of educating the voters but misleading them about the symbol allotted by the Commission and hence undesirable and illegal since use of the ‘Two Leaves’,in any manner or exhibiting any thematic or visual advertisement to this effect is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct,” said the EC.
“The Commission has decided to convey its strong displeasure and warned that the party should strictly adhere to the lawful directions and other instructions issued in this behalf and also remove forthwith the symbol "two leaves" from all its official websites and social media,” the poll panel said on Friday.
Earlier, the poll panel had frozen the AIADMK symbol, the two leaves, after hearing both the sides, former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam and party general secretary VK Sasikala, over J Jayalalithaa's legacy. Both the factions were staking claims over the two leaf symbol.