Chennai: The freezing of AIADMK’s ‘two leaves’ gives a clear edge to the DMK, besides providing a level playing field to former Chief Minister’s O. Panneerselvam’s AIADMK (Puratchithalaivi Amma) to challenge the Sasikalaled AIADMK (Amma).

The decision is a huge setback for the Sasikala faction and its candidate T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who could have enjoyed a definite advantage, if he had got the ‘two leaves’ symbol.

With the backing of the popular party symbol, Dhinakaran could have set up a direct fight with the DMK and easily pushed Panneerselvam’s nominee E. Madhusudhanan to the third place.

After losing the ‘two leaves’ symbol, Dinakaran’s organisational skills, the support of official machinery, campaign of ministers and party leaders, besides the money and muscle power will not be sufficient for him to ensure a smooth sail.

Despite hampered by age, Madhusudhanan, a well known candidate in the area as he has won from the seat in 1991 to become a minister, is certain to give Dhinakaran, a run for his money. After 27 years, the DMK’s ‘rising sun’ will not face the usual tough contest from AIADMK founder MGR’s magic symbol of ‘two leaves’.

The last time when the AIADMK lost its symbol in the 1989 Assembly polls, the DMK swept the Assembly elections as the votes of its rival suffered a split between the factions of former Chief Ministers J. Jayalalithaa and V.N. Janaki.

In RK Nagar bypoll, besides a split, the AIADMK votes could undergo major erosion, if the traditional voters did not show enthusiasm for voting for the rival factions.

Though, the DMK has fielded a low profile, lesser known candidate, it might be sufficient for the principal opposition to retain its vote share of about 33 per cent which it polled even when it contested against Jayalalithaa in the 2016 Assembly elections.

In 1989, Jayalalithaa’s faction which secured the second place in the Assembly elections, successfully claimed the legacy of its founder MGR and went on to clinch the ‘two leaves’ symbol too.

After 27 years, the factions led by Sasikala and Panneerselvam will be battling for the second place with substantial votes to win Jayalalithaa’s legacy.

A second place for any of the faction will give them the legitimacy of people’s support, but it will be a long drawn battle in the Election Commission and courts for both the factions to get the official name and the ‘two leaves’ symbol.