AIADMK election symbol row: A huge setback has come for the two warring factions in Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, the AIADMK with the Election Commission in a late night announcement clarifying that it has frozen the party’s ‘two leaf’ election system for now and has barred both O Panneerselvam as well as party interim General Secretary Sasikala from using it. Today being the last date for filing nomination papers for the RK Nagar bypoll, the decision was eagerly being awaited by both the parties as well as their rival political dispensation, the DMK. Now, both these AIADMK factions will have to fight the bypoll on another symbol. The ‘two leaf’ symbol was important for both factions as it has links to Jayalalithaa and her legacy – the faction that gets it, has first rights to claim the former TN chief minister’s legacy. Here are the Live updates of the happenings as the Tamil Nadu crisis unfold:

11:29 am: EC has given the symbol of auto rikshaw to Sasikala cam with name AIADMK Amma, however they are asking for hat symbol, instead.

11:14 am: EC gives ‘hat ‘symbol to Sasikala’s faction and ‘lamp’symbol to O Pannerselvam camp.

11:08 am: E Madhusudhanan the only qualified candidate to carry forward Amma’s legacy; to file nomination soon: M Pandiarajan on RK Nagar by poll.

’10:50 am: Actor Rajinikanth tweets on on reports of his supporting a party in RK Nagar bypolls, says he is not supporting any party.

10:30 am: Sasikala have received several letters in jail blaming her for J Jayalaithaa’s death.

10:15 am: O Pannerselvam’s faction also submits their party names as Amma AIADMK and party symbol as electricity pole.

9:45 pm: Sasikala camp currently in Election Office. Submits party name as ADMK  Amma. Opts for Auto, cap and bat as symbols.