Hyderabad: In a huge setback to jailed leader VK Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran, the unified AIADMK under former chief minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E. Palaniswami (EPS) has been recognized as the "real" party and granted use of the two-leaves symbol by the Election Commission, according to official sources.

Dhinakaran, who was stripped of his party post after his aunt was sent to jail and merger of OPS-EPS groups in August, had fought hard for the symbol and also control of the party, which has been wracked by feuds amid a leadership crisis since the death of its powerful former chief J. Jayalalithaa in December 2016.

The Election Commission has rejected TTV Dhinakaran's claim as he "doesn't enjoy support in the party." Dhinakaran claims he has the support of 18 legislators and many others in the AIADMK.

The decision comes as a shot in the arm for Tamil Nadu's ruling party ahead of crucial local body elections expected to be announced soon, as it battles internal fissures and wranglings. By-election for RK Nagar constituency in Chennai is also expected before the end of 2017. This is a prestigious election for the party as the seat was represented by J. Jayalalithaa. Winning the party symbol was a half battle for the ruling AIADMK faction.

The poll panel had earlier this year frozen the party's famous symbol as factions led by OPS and EPS claimed it, each saying theirs was the "real party." The commission said no one could use the symbol in elections till it decided the dispute.

The election for the state legislator or MLA from RK Nagar, which Ms Jayalalithaa represented two times, was to be held in April, but was cancelled after huge amounts of cash were found in Chennai that were to be used to bribe voters.

Dhinakaran had announced then that he would contest the election as the candidate of the AIADMK.

But EPS and OPS joined hands in August after weeks of negotiations, striking a deal that saw OPS become leader of the united AIADMK, with EPS serving as his deputy, and they reversed roles in the government with Mr Panneerselvam becoming deputy to Chief Minister E Palaniswami. A crucial component of the pact was throwing VK Sasikala and TTV Dhinakaran out of the party, a move that they contest.

Jayalalithaa died while she was Chief Minister, throwing her party into disarray with competing factions arguing over who should lead it.

Jayalalithaa's closest friend Sasikala, who took over control of the party after her death, is serving a four-year jail term for corruption. Stopped just before she could take charge as Chief Minister, Sasikala deputed her nephew Dhinakaran as her deputy and her representative in the party. But both Sasikala and Dhinakaran were reduced to non-existent gradually and the allotment of party symbol to EPS-OPS group further weakened the duo.