With Sasikala, Paneerselvam and sceptre of BJP: Politics of intrigue in Tamil Nadu
Last week, when AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala arrived as the chief guest at the India Today South conclave at a star hotel in Chennai, chief minister O Panneerselvam and all ministers had reached the venue ahead of her.
But when Sasikala entered the hotel, she did not even glance to look at Panneerselvam who stood on the side, let alone extend the social courtesy of greeting the CM. The pictures of this public snub went viral on social media.
On stage too, Sasikala was frosty, not exchanging a word with Panneerselvam, seated next to her. But the worst cut came when she exited just before Panneerselvam was to deliver his speech.
In a nutshell, it demonstrated the equation - or the lack of it - between the two most important leaders of the ruling Dravidian party.
But a week is a long time in politics. The buzz surrounding the presence of the entire Cabinet, senior secretaries and some MLAs at the conclave was that Sasikala would take oath as CM on January 18, an auspicious date. But speaking at a Pongal event in Thanjavur on Monday, Sasikala's husband M Natarajan declared that Panneerselvam is here to stay. Does this mean that things aren't moving according to plan for the Sasikala camp?
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| On stage too, Sasikala was frosty, not exchanging a word with Panneerselvam, seated next to her. |
Natarajan also claimed that the BJP was trying to topple the AIADMK government and ``saffronise'' Tamil Nadu. While he did not elaborate on the evidence at hand to prove his claim, it is a serious charge that seriously ruptures the relations between the two parties.
It is a known fact that during the period of Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation, Natarajan had tried his best to reach out to the BJP leadership, while also continuing parleys with the Congress. Thanks to his friendship with Tamil Nadu Congress chief S Thirunavakarasu, he could establish contact with party vice president Rahul Gandhi. But the top duo of the BJP played hard to get for Natarajan, despite help extended by some Tamil Nadu BJP leaders.
The BJP has given enough indications that it is in favour of Panneerselvam continuing as CM. Which begs the question if New Delhi scuttled the change at Fort St George, leaving Natarajan frustrated.
Or was it the effort to rope in superstar Rajinikanth in a political role by RSS ideologue and Narendra Modi's close supporter S Gurumurthy. Natarajan attacking Gurumurthy by name gives credence to this possibility.
The Panneerselvam story is perhaps the strangest of them all. Here is the piquant situation of the chief minister not having the confidence of his legislators and the Cabinet. The CM knows he will have to sign on the dotted line when Sasikala asks him to quit.
But will he? The fear and suspicion in the Sasikala camp is that Panneerselvam is a Trojan horse. And that when push comes to shove, he backed by the BJP, could show uncharacteristic spine.
Panneerselvam is banking on the fact that the last administrative decision taken by Jayalalithaa was to transfer her portfolios of Home and general administration to him. Add to that the fact that he was the chosen one on the previous two occasions that she had to step down as CM. That gives him a halo, if not clout, among the AIADMK cadre.
The coming out in the open of Natarajan and Sasikala's brother, V Dhivaharan, also indirectly strengthens Panneerselvam. Because the cadre is not happy about Sasikala's family which was banished by Jayalalithaa, making a return to centrestage and even claiming credit for having saved Amma and the party.
The bureaucracy in Tamil Nadu too is happy to deal with a less overbearing chief minister's office. The apprehension is that under Sasikala, it would revert to the Jayalalithaa style of governance.
Panneerselvam has apparently conveyed to key bureaucrats that orders on critical subjects will come only from him. A subtle hint that they need not look to Poes Garden for orders.
And finally, the BJP support. Modi and Panneerselvam had a “chai pe charcha” when the two met in New Delhi. Did Modi share the recipe with a fellow former tea seller to make the drink bitter for rivals?
But Panneerselvam is still the lesser of their worries. Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar has launched herself into politics, drawing significant crowds.
While no AIADMK leader is to be seen by her side, sources say the disgruntled elements within the AIADMK are providing her with financial and moral support.
Deepa, who is banking on the close resemblance with her aunt, is merely a mask for those who want to push Sasikala and family on to the back foot. She has said that she will announce her political plans on February 24, Jayalalithaa's birth anniversary, giving rise to speculation if the five-week period is buying time for arrive at a compromise.
The last word has clearly not been said in Tamil Nadu's politics of intrigue.
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